journey onWord with us

Adventures in traveling have become my new normal. I left last Tuesday with snow and a cancelled flight. I returned Friday to more snow. In between my snowy departure and arrival, there was an interesting trip from Raleigh, NC to Atlanta. I chatted with a man from Atlanta, and had a nice time talking about business, church, the Green Bay Packers, our families and just life in general. I received an email later in the week that upon his arrival home, he had communicated the story to a friend. This friend also happened to be a long time acquaintance with my wife and I. In fact my wife was once his piano accompanist at a church, and I had tried to hire him! How these two men in Atlanta ever connected that relationship I will never know. But I live by the principle that God is always up to something, and He was undoubtedly involved in this unusual encounter. I am not sure why this happened, but it caused me to reflect on God’s power to arrange circumstances when He chooses. He is just that powerful.

I am sure you have had one of those “it’s a small world encounters” also. You probably agree with me that God is powerful enough to create them. But most Christ followers live with a small view of God’s power internally. It is a shame that we neglect to avail ourselves of His marvelous power spoken of in Ephesians. Paul prayed that the Ephesians would understand the greatness of God’s power to all who believed.

Ephesians 1:18-19
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and the incomparably great power for us who believe.

Incomparably great power is available to all believers. Our common struggle is an unwillingness to appropriate what He has provided. We are too weak to accomplish His purpose in our own strength, and we are certainly no match for the attacks of Satan. But remember, if you are in Christ, His power is available to you…. today.! On my adventuresome trip, I read the following words by David Jeremiah. They fit our struggle.

The story is about lady who had a small house off the seashore of Ireland at the turn of the century. She was quite wealthy but a bit frugal. The people were surprised, then, when she decided to be among the first to have electricity in her home.

Several weeks after the installation, a meter reader appeared at her door. He asked if her electricity was working well, and she assured him it was. “I’m wondering if you can explain something to me,” he said. Your meter shows scarcely any usage. Are you using your power?”

“Certainly,” she answered. “Each evening when the sun sets, I turn on my lights just enough to light my candles; then I turn them off.” (quoted from Just Like Jesus, Max Lucado)

She had all the power she needed, but didn’t use it. Don’t we struggle with the same problem? When you and I avail ourselves of God’s power, things change. We don’t need more wattage, just more usage. It is as simple as blowing out the candle and turning on the Light. God wants you to understand His incomparably great power is available to you … now and always!