Today I stand in awe of the suffering and redemption of the Cross.
Romans 5:6-8 is simply beautiful: "6) You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7) Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Perhaps verse 6 is the most powerful for me this morning..."when we were still powerless Christ died for the ungodly." A life disconnected to the Father through relationship with Jesus Christ is a life lived without power! In physics, power is the rate at which work is performed or energy is converted. We can spend our entire lives busy with doing "good deeds", being"nice" people, and checking off all the little ethical boxes that make us feel better about ourselves. Unfortunately, the introduction of sin into the well-spring of humanity inevitably results in our inability to reach perfection. We simply don't have the "power" necessary to propel us back to an untainted state of godliness. We can work and work and work...but the rate of our effort will never lead to enough spiritual power to effect any real change in our daily lives.
I am so happy that I don't have to depend on my own worthiness in order to come to God. Romans 5:8 reassures me that while I am still in sin, Christ died for me! All I have to do is accept his gift...the sacrifice of innocent blood. Real power over human shortcomings comes from God through His Son. We are made perfect in Him! I am thanking God now for the gift of Jesus and the power to do more than good...as a believer and co-bearer of the Cross I am empowered to do GREAT things in the Kingdom of God! To paraphrase my pastor Bishop Charles E. Blake: "I have power you can't see. God lives inside of me. I can fight any enemy, for God and me are a majority!"
Romans 5:6-8 is simply beautiful: "6) You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7) Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Perhaps verse 6 is the most powerful for me this morning..."when we were still powerless Christ died for the ungodly." A life disconnected to the Father through relationship with Jesus Christ is a life lived without power! In physics, power is the rate at which work is performed or energy is converted. We can spend our entire lives busy with doing "good deeds", being"nice" people, and checking off all the little ethical boxes that make us feel better about ourselves. Unfortunately, the introduction of sin into the well-spring of humanity inevitably results in our inability to reach perfection. We simply don't have the "power" necessary to propel us back to an untainted state of godliness. We can work and work and work...but the rate of our effort will never lead to enough spiritual power to effect any real change in our daily lives.
I am so happy that I don't have to depend on my own worthiness in order to come to God. Romans 5:8 reassures me that while I am still in sin, Christ died for me! All I have to do is accept his gift...the sacrifice of innocent blood. Real power over human shortcomings comes from God through His Son. We are made perfect in Him! I am thanking God now for the gift of Jesus and the power to do more than good...as a believer and co-bearer of the Cross I am empowered to do GREAT things in the Kingdom of God! To paraphrase my pastor Bishop Charles E. Blake: "I have power you can't see. God lives inside of me. I can fight any enemy, for God and me are a majority!"
Dr. Sha's orders for today: 1) Identify an area of your spiritual life that is in need of greater power. Perhaps you have been given a burden for intercessory prayer and you are struggling to dedicate the time to God. Maybe God is calling you to fast from food, TV, or internet, but you feel powerless to comply. Maybe you are struggling with issues of greed, lust, or anger. Whatever the shortcoming is, identify it and write it down. 2) Re-read and recite aloud Romans 5:6-8. 3) Pray a directed prayer identifying your area of need as well as your desire to accept the sacrifice and forgiveness of Jesus. Thank God now for the POWER you find in Him to be changed daily into the image of Christ!
Be blessed!
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Lovin' It.
ReplyDeleteWonderful reminder of the limit to our physical ability next to the limitless power (source) of God.
D. Finley
Thanks D. Finley!!!! I pray that you continued to be empowered by God's awesome word!
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