My spiritual comfort food is usually found in Psalms, the Major Prophets, the Gospels, or the book of James. Lately, as a discipline, I've been reading through the writings of Paul. Today, I landed on 1 Corinthians 2:5 and got stuck.
"that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God." (1 Cor. 2:5 nasb)
The first part of this verse is easy to understand. We don't base our faith on man's wisdom. It's a good thing, too, because man's wisdom is not always quite as wise as we would hope.
The second part is worth considering.
Our faith should rest on the POWER of God.
Ponder that for a moment.
The faith we say we have should be based on God's POWER. The word translated as "power" is dynamis, from which we get the word "dynamite." It refers to the inherent power of God to act in us, through us, and for us.
It's the same power that defeated sin and death on the cross. It opened the tomb of Jesus to reveal folded bed linens, an empty grave bed, and a risen Savior.
God's power wasn't "used up" when Jesus raised from the grave. It didn't run out at Pentecost. It wasn't depleted when the original disciples died.
God still has as much power as ever, and He'll manifest it through us, if we allow Him. He'll help us pray prayers through which He will work. He'll help us love the unlovely, serve the least among us, and humble ourselves. He'll help us keep going when the way is too hard.
What we sometimes forget is that the same power that allowed Jesus to still a storm, heal a leper, open the eyes of the blind is still present today.
He still quiets the storms.
He still heals.
He still opens the eyes of the blind.
Our faith doesn't rest on past-tense power. It takes root and depends utterly on present-tense power. Power that's still available, still at work.
That fact changes everything.
When we put our trust in Jesus, we're trusting in the completed work of redemption on the cross, but we're also trusting in the ongoing power of God to do miracles, change lives, intervene in the matters of our everyday existence.
Wonder-working power is still available today.
So where is it? It's in places around the world where people are so impoverished they are desperate for a move of God. It's also right here in this country when believers reach out in faith and ask God for the impossible.
How do we access God's power? For disciples, it's easy. Just ask.
Being a disciple presumes that we've put our faith in Him and have a relationship with Jesus. It presumes we study Scripture, plant His Word in our hearts, and allow Him to cleanse us of sin, and that we pray to find what God wants in our situation.
If that's not where we are, let's make the changes necessary to be a disciple.
If we're a disciple of Christ, let's act like one. Pray as Jesus prayed. Expect what Jesus expected from God in answer to our prayers. Seek His will and ask accordingly, fasting for more power.
If wonder-working power is available to us, and it is, let's live like it, both in our words and in our deeds.
"that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God." (1 Cor. 2:5 nasb)
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You can also mail your check or money order to: Global Outreach/ PO Box 1, Tupelo MS 38802. Be sure to put Account 4841 in the "for" line.
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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: Caregiver Chronicles: When God Makes a Way
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