real power

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 NLT)

God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT)

Have you ever been afraid, really afraid? Maybe it was a situation totally beyond your control. Maybe it was the fear of something upcoming that you could do nothing about or were uncertain about.

All kinds of stuff make us afraid. Job changes, possible job losses, bills that are unexpected, confrontations – the list can go on and on.

And there is nothing wrong with being afraid of something that you cannot help. It is purely a human reflex and God made us that way. Only a fool walks through life totally unafraid. If nothing else, sooner or later you find yourself in a part of town you aren’t usually in and your motorcycle quits and the streetlights go out. Then real fear can set in. (That happened to me, BTW)

But at the same time, God also gave us something else: his power, his absolute, unmitigated and raw power.

You remember, this is the God that spoke the universe into being. He just said, “Light be,” and light was. No big thing for him.

This is also the God that can send that power into the lives of ordinary people. People who are addicted are freed. People who are lost and mired in sin are redeemed. People who have nothing to live for find purpose and meaning in their lives.

People who are totally and absolutely without any redeeming qualities, pure slimeball junk as people, become in his grace, productive human beings, valued in society.

That is power. And it is the kind of power that says that you don’t have to be afraid. It is the kind of power that says that God is in control, that no matter what happens – job loss, unexpected bills, confrontations – God is in us and he will take charge if we let him.

How far can God work? The Bible says immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. How? By the spirit of power, love and self-discipline. Our God can do stuff better than you can ask or imagine, more than you could ever conceive.

He is a God of power and a God of love at the same time. It is like the guy I used to know who was so immensely strong, unbelievably powerful – yet he could hold a baby or shake hands with an arthritic elderly lady without hurting her. That is power: restrained yet potentially absolute.

Are you afraid of life? You don’t have the Spirit of God if you are. He doesn’t say you trip along like a little wienie, being stupid. But he does say that he will give you power.

And that is a big Amen!