Power

Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God .... Psalm 62: 11 NRSV

Power belongs to God.

How often we forget that!

We are so self-involved, that we think we are the ones with the power. Or perhaps we think other people have power over us. Sometimes we allow others to have power over us. At other times we are forced to endure the power someone else has over us.

We think to be rich means to have power. We see those who have fame and notoriety as having power. Politcal power is something many of us see each day in the media. People who deal with our finances seem pretty powerful. People who treat us for medical reasons hold lots of power. Supervisors, managers, bosses - all these folks at work have tremendous power over us because they can make decisions about our jobs, benefits and pay checks.

Even our relationships with other human beings sometimes become another type of power. Even if they are dependent on us, their good opinion, reciprocity and welfare hold an indecent amount of power over us.

Yet, God is more powerful than any of these types of power in our lives. We tend to gloss over this fact when we see all these other powers affecting our lives. Instead of appealing to God who has the ultimate power, we try to contort ourselves in such a way to free us from earthly power.

God wants us to see how powerful God is over us and our lives. In this Psalm, the writer says that God has not told them once but twice that it is God who has the power. Power belongs to God. We need to remember that.

God, help us to remember that YOU have the power! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims

Power Corrupts

Yearly Reading: Exodus 7-11

But as for you and your officials, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God. Exodus 9: 30 NRSV

Local, state, national and international leadership are all in the same boat with Pharaoh and his advisers: they do not fear God.

I think we can all agree that once someone has a position of power in government, they tend to believe they are greater than the rest of us. And it really doesn't matter what party they belong to! In fact, I would say that they tend to see themselves as gods. Power doesn't just corrupt - it completely changes the worldview of those who hold it.

This is just like Pharaoh and his officials. They have no fear of God. In fact, Egyptians believed that Pharaoh was a god. I suppose Pharaoh saw himself as superior to this Hebrew God whose people were Pharaoh's slaves. However, his magicians as well as many of the "regular" folk do seem to have come to at least have a healthy respect of this God of the Hebrews.

I think we need to constantly pray for all of our leaders: that they may have softened hearts and fear God. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims

Working Together

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 NRSV

I was planning on going on to chapter four today but something about this verse really spoke to me. I had never noticed this before but Paul does not just say that God's power can do much more than what we can either ask or imagine. Paul says that God working through the power within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine!

So, it isn't just God doing great things. It is that God give us the power to do things beyond what we can do alone. In fact, Paul makes it sound like God's power in us can do more than God can do alone! And the things that can be done are abundant - more than anyone actually needs!

I think Paul is speaking from personal experience. He has seen God's power do so much more than he would have been able to accomplish on his own. He has also seen a multiplicity of incredible things happen.

In my own personal experience, I know this. But often I get too pig-headed and want to do things on my own. Why can't I just let God's power work through me? Hopefully, it does happen even when I am doing my best to resist. Reading this verse makes me realize that I do have to claim my part in this - God is not working alone. Working together with God through God's power will answer more prayers before I even begin to ask.

God, you want to work through us to accomplish so much in this world! May we realize our potential when we work together with you. Fill us with your power, Lord! Amen!

Question for the day: Are you allowing God's power to work within you?

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims