Erika Mathews's Blog, page 15
March 8, 2018
Thy Word is a Light
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.
Today we approach the specifics of the daily process of abiding in the Light. Certainly Jesus Christ is the Light that dwells in us – but what does that look like in our daily experience?
Psalm 119 is filled with the answer – stated specifically here in verse 105: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
A familiar verse – but what does it mean, and how does it shed light on how we walk in the light in our lives?
Abiding in the light means remaining in the Word. Even a single thoughtful read-through of Psalm 119 should quickly confirm that it isn’t just enough to read the Bible, study the Bible, or even memorize the Bible – though all of these are certainly necessary and immensely beneficial to our walk with God. Yet if we are truly to receive His light into our daily lives, His Word must be more than simply an item on our to-do list or an activity on our morning or evening routine. Even if we approach the Word with true passion, fervor, and love for God, we fall short of His potential for us of walking in the light if this is our only interaction with the Word.
While morning quiet time may consist of a half hour or an hour of soaking up Scripture (assuming your thoughts are focused), the problem occurs when you close your Bible and go about your day. For the next twenty-three hours, until your next devotion hour, your mind, heart, and thoughts are continually bombarded with the world, the flesh, and the devil – lies and fleshly thinking that seek to tear down and replace the truth of the Word that you filled yourself with. What we take in through our senses is what we think about. What we think about is what we become. Before we realize it, even if we are careful, the impact of the darkness of worldly thinking quickly overtakes the light of the Word.
Test this in your own life. How many Scriptural truths do you find difficult to believe, even though you know intellectually that they are true? Do you truly believe that with God, all things are possible? Do you truly believe that by faith all things are possible to you? Or do actually believe “all things except (fill in the blank)”? Do you truly believe that your sins are entirely gone by the cross and that now you have been made the righteousness of God in Him? Do you believe that sin has no more dominion over you? If you have trouble believing some of God’s statements in Scripture, it is because we have been so steeped in a natural mindset to the exclusion of the mindset of the kingdom of God. Yet the natural mindset is darkness to those who walk in it.
How then do we conquer this cycle? It is by allowing His Word to be a continual lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Notice the emphasis on continually abiding in God’s Word simply in the rest of this passage: “I will keep thy righteous judgments…teach me thy judgments…yet do I not forget thy law…Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.” Jesus confirmed that, “If ye continue in my word, THEN are you my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32).
A disciple certainly abides in the light rather than in the darkness of fleshly thinking – and a disciple is defined by Jesus as one who continues in His word. A disciple is one who is continually allowing God’s word to be a light to his feet. Just a few verses previous to this one, Psalm 119:97 exclaims, “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” By purposefully making His word our meditation every moment of the day, we ensure that the darkness of the world’s philosophies and fleshly thinking have no power over our minds, lives, or hearts.
God’s word isn’t just a light to begin or end our day with – it’s a step-by-step lamp. If you were going to walk through physical darkness, you wouldn’t turn on a flashlight, spend a few minutes soaking up its light, and then leave it on the shelf while you went out into the blackness. Of course not; you’d carry it with you, allowing it to illumine every step and plot a safe course for your feet. God’s word is the same way – each day, implant a verse into your mind and heart, pondering it throughout the day, muttering it to yourself, thinking about its meaning and application, praying it to God, applying it to what you encounter during the day, making it truly the joy and rejoicing of your heart. Each time you find your mind wandering to the things of the world, use that as a reminder to fix your mind back on His Word. “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds…” (Romans 12:2). This is truly living in the word – and living in the light.
What are you meditating on today?
March 7, 2018
I Am Come A Light
Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. ~ John 12:44-50
If your life or daily walk is characterized by darkness – confusion, indecision, negativity, fear, hatred, selfishness, pride, apathy, depression, and so forth – it’s by your own choice.
“What?” you might say. “I certainly don’t choose to live in in darkness. I’m trying my best to avoid these things, but sometimes life happens.”
That’s what Jesus said.
“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”
Because He came and because He is a light, we have absolutely no reason to keep living in darkness!
Think of God’s people during the plagues of Egypt. When darkness covered the land of Egypt, the presence of God allowed light to remain in the Israelites’ dwellings. What would you think if some of God’s people had chosen to spend the time in the palace or in other dark parts of Egypt? How silly it would be to insist on staying in the thick darkness “which could be felt” rather than in the light-filled tents of home where the presence and blessing of God was?
And yet how often do we do the same thing in our lives, insisting on remaining in our own misery and self-interest when the light and presence of God is right here for us to receive and remain in?
Choose instead to reach out and grasp and believe and receive His word, which is life, light, and peace. No matter what your circumstances are, let Him speak His truth into your specific life situation and wholeheartedly embrace that truth. Remain in Him and allow His light to overwhelm each inch of your being.
Comment below: how is abiding in the Word going for you this week?
March 6, 2018
Wait on the Lord – Part 2
“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
(Isaiah 40:30–31)
In part one of this post, I talked about how we need God for everything in life. The line of the song Jesus loves me is very true: “[We] are weak, but He is strong!”
When God created Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, how did He intend them to live? He did not make them strong in themselves and then they became weak when they sinned. Quite the opposite – God created them utterly weak and helpless in themselves so that they could depend entirely on Him. When they took their eyes off their Creator and began to trust in their own ability, that is when were conquered by sin and fell from their relationship with God.
What should our response be? The fact that we are weak is not a problem for God – it is actually the way that we were designed to be.
Jesus said “…without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
Waiting on the Lord is being bound as one with Him. The Hebrew word translated as “wait” means “to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect.” (Strong’s Concordance)
On our own, we faint and grow weary. If we are joined to the all-powerful Creator of the universe, our strength is transformed into the very ability of God!
Let us press on the know the Lord. Then His power will work in us to accomplish through us all He desires for us and those around us!
Light is With You
Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. ~ John 12:30-36
One truth is clear: we need Jesus for light. He is light; without Him, there is no light.
No wonder darkness quite literally descended upon the earth during daytime at His death! No wonder the very earth shook. No wonder the sun was darkened. No wonder the disciples were fearful and overwhelmed by grief. The very Light of the World had been put out.
Who could believe in the light while darkness overshadowed the earth?
But this wasn’t the end.
“For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people:
but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.”
Isaiah 60:2-3
No wonder that “if Christ be not raised, your faith is yet vain, ye are yet in your sins” and “we are of all men most miserable”! (I Corinthians 15). If He is dead, we live in darkness.
“BUT NOW IS CHRIST RISEN FROM THE DEAD”! (I Corinthians 15:19)
Now the light abides in us! Not only did He say, “I am the Light of the World,” (John 8:12), He also said, “Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14) – because He is risen, He is the Light, and He lives within us! Even though He is no longer bodily present upon earth to be the Light, He still remains the Light of the World because He now dwells in us and we in Him. Because of His death, He has redeemed us and made us “at-one” with Himself for all eternity.
Today, believe in the Light and live as you truly are in the kingdom of God: a child of light. Stop living as though the darkness of this world and earthly things are all there is; live in the reality of the heavenly kingdom!
Leave a comment! What is God showing you through meditating on this passage?
March 5, 2018
Your Life Shall See The Light
If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth: He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. ~ Job 33:23-28
This passage is a beautiful prophetic description of the peacemaking work of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the “one mediator between God and men” (I Timothy 2:5). He is the messenger, the interpreter, the “one among a thousand” – the only one who can show man his uprightness because He Himself is the proof of the righteousness which He imputed to man through His death and resurrection. By His atoning and redeeming death, taking every shred of our unrighteousness upon Himself, He is able to stand before His Father on our behalf and truly say, “Deliver this person from death, from hell, from separation, from the world, from the flesh, from himself and his own miserable wallowing selfish life, because I have found a ransom. I am the ransom.” Then He speaks over us words of truth – words describing who we already are in the kingdom of God, words that as He speaks them will transform into reality in the physical realm of our lives – words of restoration: restored life, restored vigor, restored hope, restored purpose – all because of restored relationship and favor with God through Christ. Now, through our Mediator and Redeemer, we are transformed from misery, pain, and death to taking on our identity as Joy and Righteousness!
This passage is clear: if anyone speaks the truth, agreeing with God that “I have sinned,” God will deliver his soul and grant him light through His own life!
This is truly the good news of Jesus Christ: He has redeemed us from ourselves and restored us to a right relationship with God! What is more, this good news is indeed light to those who receive it: it has the power to transform them from the miserable creatures described in the first part of this chapter into the Joy and Righteousness of God! If this is not the most illuminating light a person can receive, our definitions and priorities are misaligned.
Today, claim this promise: renounce your sin (any walking in the flesh or seeking your own things that you’ve been doing) and receive the power of restoration that God has already granted to you – and your life shall see eternal, glorious, joyful light!
How are you seeing the light of Christ in your life today? Or if you aren’t, what’s hindering you?
March 3, 2018
In His Light We See Light
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. ~ Psalm 36:1-9
This passage gives a striking contrast: the lifestyle of the sinner and the goodness of God. Our sinful flesh inclines to lifting up ourselves: flattering ourselves, not fearing God because we think we’re good enough, walking in our own self-will and iniquity, speaking only to forward our personal goals, walking in fleshly wisdom and goodness instead of true wisdom and goodness, making plans to forward our selfish desires, pursuing fleshly dreams, and becoming desensitized to evil.
Yet if only we would continually fix our eyes upon our mighty God, we would see such a different picture, one both refreshing and empowering. He is goodness; He is infinite mercy; He is faithfulness; He is righteousness; He is perfect satisfaction. The darkness of a selfish life fades to its true insufficiency by the side of the goodness of God.
“Mercy” and “lovingkindness” in this passage are both translated from the Hebrew word hesed, meaning steadfast covenant love. This is the covenant love that reaches out to us in our fleshly state and draws us to Himself. He has made a covenant with us of life and peace, and He is always and eternally faithful to keep both sides of this covenant. It is only because of the infinite greatness of this covenant love that when we place our trust unreservedly in Him, He is 100% faithful to keep us walking in His covenant and implanting His own covenant love and righteousness in our lives. Covenant love is God’s very nature.
And as we abide in this covenant love, we indeed are abundantly satisfied with the richness of dwelling in Him. Pursuing our own selfish dreams and goals, we cannot even begin to imagine the vastness of the riches of His house and the depth of the river of His pleasures. As Psalm 21 joyfully reminds us:
The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance. ~ Psalm 21:1-6
All this flows from the fountain of Life found in Him. “In thy light shall we see light” – this passage brings to mind a picture of gazing into a clear, sparkling fountain bubbling over into a peaceful pool on a bright day, the numerous refractions of light dazzling our eyes – yet the more we continue to look, the more facets of light we see, continually changing yet always the same. He is a neverending well of light – the deeper we go into Him, the more light we find. The more we gaze on the light of Jesus’ countenance, the more facets of the Father’s Light we see and the more intimately we come to know and live in Him!
How have you seen light in His light in your own life?
March 2, 2018
That Was the True Light
The first recorded words out of the mouth of God were “Let there be light.” The first creative act of God was the creation of light. The first entity in existence on earth other than God Himself was light. Throughout Scripture, light continues to be a key theme.
This month I’m participating in a Bible reading and meditation challenge on The Light. I’d like to invite you to come along for the ride as we more intimately know Jesus Christ as our Light.
Why is His name, The Light, so significant? How do we abide in His light? How do we receive His light? How do we practically walk in The Light even during struggles and trials? And how do we reflect His light to others?
These are just a few of the questions we’ll be pondering this month.
Light Day 1: John 1:1-9
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. ~ John 1:1-9
In this passage we see several key points:
The Life living inside Jesus Christ the Word is the light of men! Simply put, His life is light. Therefore, when His life dwells in us, His light shines through us. To receive His light, receive the life of Christ into your being, allowing it to live through you and control you.
The light shines in the darkness. No matter how dark your soul feels, no matter how deep your trials seem, no matter how powerful evil appears, no matter how strongly those around you reject you – the light of Jesus Christ shines into your life. It’s true that light shines most brightly in darkness.
Darkness has no power over light. Not only does light shine in darkness, darkness does not overpower it! It’s a law of nature: darkness must flee in the presence of light. There’s no need to chase the darkness of your life out before receiving the fullness of His light; simply look to Jesus and darkness has no place in you. His light is more than powerful enough to illumine every corner of your life.
John bore witness of the Light. As disciples of Christ, do we too bear witness of the Light of Christ? Do our lives testify “He is Light”? Do others believe Jesus Christ by seeing His Light in your life? Does every word and action reflect Him? Do the daily choices you make each moment flow from His Light/Life living in you?
Jesus Christ our Light lights every person who comes into the world. Abiding in and reflecting His light isn’t something only for the super-spiritual. If you’ve entered this world, you’ve been illumined by His light. Devote your life – each daily choice, mundane tasks, normal routine – to walking in Him, the true Light. Furthermore, the fact that He is the True Light means that there are false lights. By abiding in His Word continually, meditating upon it and filling our minds with it, we are equipped to discern false lights and fix our eyes only on Him as the True Light.
Meditate on this passage and on Jesus Christ our True Light who lights us. What has God showed you through this passage?
February 13, 2018
Wait on the Lord – Part 1
“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”
(Isaiah 40:28–29)
“If we just believe in ourselves and persevere through difficulties, there is nothing we cannot achieve!” Maybe we all don’t consciously think this, but our actions can show that in some areas we believe this.
What is God’s perspective? He is the everlasting God and He created everything with the word of His mouth. His power and ability is limitless. Do you know Him? Have you heard Him?
Here’s one thing you should know: God never gets tired. He has infinite power and strength.
Here’s another thing you should know: You have no ability in yourself. We did not create ourselves. We cannot take credit for anything in life – even the air we breathe now is a gift from our Creator.
We give ourselves far too much credit – and we certainly make God far too small.
So here’s what I want you to think about today: We need God. Not just in a spiritual sense, not just to be a good Christian, and not just when we have grown tired – we need him for every single, solitary part of our existence.
I used to think of the verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13) as “On difficult tasks when I’ve exhausted all my resources and have nothing left, God helps to take me the rest of the way that I couldn’t go myself.” While this might sound right, I was actually completely wrong because of how I viewed myself. I thought that I was capable of doing 80-90% and God swooped in to carry me that last little bit that I couldn’t. And that’s just on the hard tasks!
In reality, we need God for everything. In ourselves can do nothing (John 15:5). We must continually realize that we are dependent on Him in every area of life. We can do all things – even the simple things like getting out of bed in the morning – because of Christ who gives us strength. Without Him, none of it would be possible. Turn your eyes upon Him, and receive with thanksgiving His strength for today.
February 6, 2018
The Goals the World Got Right
Did you know God wants you to pursue advancement, riches, and power?
Did you know that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit in order to guide us into all of the truth of this advancement, riches, and power?
Did you know the Holy Spirit desires to work in you advancement, riches, and power every day?
As beings created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27, 9:6), even in our fallen fleshly state we retain some characteristics patterned in us by His image. Even though the devil loves to corrupt, he cannot create; he can only take the image of God within us and try to twist it according to his purposes.
So, when the world tells us to pursue a job, money, and position, it’s a God-given desire at its core. When you have a yearning for a calling, a desire for possessions, or a longing for a position of influence or authority, that is an expression of the deeply-rooted image of God that He has created within you.
The problems begin when we fulfill these desires in our flesh – in our own way – in a way that serves and advances only ourselves.
Study Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church, and notice the three things he prayed:
Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.
Ephesians 1:15-19
Here are the three innate goals and desires that God’s kingdom and our flesh (and the world’s system) share:
Calling
Riches
Power
The difference is how we try to achieve these goals. Working our way to the top of a career? Advancing our education to give ourselves the best shot at a high-paying and satisfying job offer? Founding an influential ministry under our name?
Or do we live and move and have our being under the laws of God’s kingdom – His system?
Notice how it’s phrased in Scripture: “…the hope of HIS calling…the riches of the glory of HIS inheritance…the exceeding greatness of HIS power…” It’s as if Paul is saying, “I know you believers desire fulfillment in your calling, riches for yourselves, and positions of influence for your own purposes, and I’m praying that God fulfills those goals in you, only let me whisper the secret of fulfillment: it’s HIM.”
Because the truth is that we will never be fulfilled in our own goals and advancements . . . our flesh is finite, and our achievements and dreams pass away. Even our legacy may well be entirely forgotten in only a few generations. Ultimately, the worldly methods of reaching these goals fall far short of true satisfaction.
Yet God in His love offers us perfect satisfaction even now. As His Spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing Him dwells in us, our eyes are opened to who He is – and we realize that we are in His image. Our innate desires for advancement, riches, and power are merely reflections of His own goals of advancement, riches, and power. As Christ (who is the exact image of the Father, unmarred by any sin – 2 Cor. 4:4) dwells in us and we in Him, He is the image of God restored to perfection within us. God’s goals become our goals. His calling becomes our calling, His riches and inheritance become ours, and His very power by which He raised Christ from the dead, in every facet of its exceeding greatness, becomes our own power.
Knowing God is knowing His calling, riches, and power. Dwelling in God is partaking of this exact calling, riches, and power!
This is true life – life seeking first the Kingdom of God. What is more, the more we abide in the spiritual kingdom and pursue the calling, riches, and power of God, the more He is able to work through our lives in the physical world around us to accomplish His purposes – which are all motivated and directed by sheer, unhampered love for us as His precious possession! Today, let’s together seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall indeed be added unto us.
January 30, 2018
How to see the power of God in your life
Our God is mighty. He is powerful. There is nothing that our God cannot do. I’m reminded of the words of Martin Luther from the great hymn of our faith:
A mighty Fortress is our God,
A Bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His Name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
When we take an honest look at the world around us, it becomes clear how weak we truly are. Our enemy Satan is going about seeking whom he may devour, the world and its lusts seek to entangle us in its grip, and our own fleshly desires draw us away from pursuing our Heavenly Father. But we actually have nothing to fear: for we have “the right man on our side”! In ourselves, we can do nothing, but with God all things are possible.
Have you ever heard a testimony from another person and wished that you could have the same experience in your own life? The simple truth is that if we are seeing God at work, the problem is that we do not believe. Let us take a look at what the Bible says about this.
In the book of Ephesians, Paul shares his deep desire for the people to be given spiritual sight which he continually expressed of God in prayer. He saw their faith in Jesus and their love for each other, and because of that, he wished that they would continue on into greater depths of knowing God in their lives.
After asking that God would open their eyes, he lists what he prays that they would be able to see. The aspect I would like to focus on is in verse nineteen of chapter one:
“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power…”
God wants to show us His power in our lives. If you desire to see His working, know that God desired it first. The Bible says, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)
In meditating on this passage from Ephesians, several different aspects of God’s power have stood out to me. Let’s explore how to see God’s power in each of these ways.
The potential of His power. Paul specifically prays that they would see the greatness of God’s power in the lives of those who believe. Even if we experience God’s working in our own lives, it is important to look at others’ lives and be inspired to go even deeper with God. We will never know all there is to know of our infinite Creator! “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever.” (2 Peter 3:18)
The presence of His power. While there is much more to know and see of God, it is also important to see His present working of His exceeding great power in our lives. Trusting in the realization that we have, in this present moment, the fullness of God at our disposal through our relationship in Christ gives us boldness and peace in our current circumstances and allows us to continue on in believing Him more and more – which in turn allows us to grow in Him!
The pervasiveness of His power. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” One meaning of this passage is that the pure in heart are those that see God in each area of life. Part of what Paul was praying was that we would actually see the power of God; not just in the glorious or outward experiences, but also in the mundane things of life or inside the quietness of our hearts. As our hearts are cleansed by the washing of the Word, we will recognize God and His work in each unique part of life.
The possibilities of His power. We learn in the next verse that this power Paul refers to is the same power by which God raised Jesus from the dead! If we stop and think about it, we honestly believe the power of God to be much smaller than it actually is. But the fact remains; the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives inside you! Just think of the possibilities! If we let God have His way with us and draw us into knowing Him more, the work that He wants to do through us is beyond our comprehension.
The purpose of His power. Since the resurrection-life power of God lives within us, it is not too difficult to see why God desires to work His power in us. “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) God is performing His will through our lives by His power. And what does He desire for our lives? Jesus said, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21) As we keep, meditate, dwell upon, abide in God’s Word, God will manifest Himself to us! His desire is to walk with us and for us to know Him intimately. He wants to work this in us by his exceeding great power; not simply performing great wonders for validation or entertainment, but His powerful working in our lives for the purpose of knowing Him more.
When a certain man asked Jesus to come heal his son, Jesus simply told him, “Go thy way; thy son liveth.” (John 4:48) At that moment, the man had a choice: to agree with what Jesus said or to disagree. Fortunately, the scripture says, “And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.” It would not surprise me if that was the moment when his son was healed. The exceeding greatness of God’s power is available to all, but only those who believe His Word actually experience it in their lives.
“…he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” (1 John 5:10-11)
Let us soak ourselves in the Word of God and believe what God says. Ask God to open the floodgates of your spiritual understanding and shine the light of His truth on your heart. And may we praise God as He works His exceeding great power in our lives!
