Susan and I went to South Alabama this past weekend to watch John win his next-to-the-last home football game. Gone is the softness from his early years; now John is a solid senior athlete… who still enjoys a big breakfast at Cracker Barrel.
‘Power’ is an important gift for the child of God, but it is much different than the ‘power’ exerted on the athletic field or wrestling mat. “God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’ let His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (II Corinthians 4:6-7)
God’s power transcends any rival, and it does not come from the weight room or training field. The power is seen in the ‘light’ God shines in our hearts which results in ‘the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.’ When we turn to the Lord and experience His freedom, we see the ‘Lord’s glory’ and are ‘transformed into His image.’ (see II Corinthians 4:16-18). This is true power… and Paul is careful to explain it ‘is from God and not from us.’
God wants us know His power, to believe in His power, and to let His power in us impact the world. Notice the use of this word in Paul’s famous prayer below. Praise God for the ‘treasure’ He has placed in these ‘jars of clay.’
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21