Every person has a power trip. I know I did. It was necessary for my well-being that I had power. I sought power in my sphere of influence to help my confidence and self-worth. Power. There is nothing like it. But when Jesus tells us to deny ourselves to follow Him, He obviously orders us to leave our interpretation of power and to follow His example of it.
Jesus had power. He could have done whatever He wanted and His Father in heaven would have sent all the angels and more to do whatever He willed.
But power does not necessarily mean strength. It's not about political influence nor is it about wealth. You see, the very essence of the power that Jesus had is the POWER to impact. The power to change, the power to create influential relationships that shed light to the glory and the saving grace of God.
I've made it my life goal to stop living for myself and to start living for others. But this cannot happen until I shed my former self and to be sanctified into a new body made holy in Christ. Until then my relationships have no power to bring revelation or conviction. Rather it's another relationship from and of the world--meaningless and shallow. But when I become a vessel for God's work, He creates impacting relationships in which I become a direct mouthpiece. I will be able to carry the burden of the lost and broken and guide them into a place of healing and surrender.
And even without this critical understanding of power, God has anointed us with a sphere of influence within our lives. We have a direct relationship with family, friends, small groups, sports teams, work, etc in which we can influence and direct people to a way of salvation.
So how are we going to leverage our power? We have so many people who need directing, a shepherd who understands their circumstances. We can be someone that brings these people back to Jesus or we can play god.
Caiaphas, the high priest of the time, aims to play god who creates a plot to kill Jesus (John 11:53) We can be with Him or against Him and when we realize our sphere of influence without any humility or how it is a gift that should not be abused, we not only lead ourselves astray but lead others to damnation.
Scary....
You and I have so much. How are you using it? Leverage for God's glory because His gift must be used to be a gift back to Him.
1 comment:
that was very insightful james!
a very good reminder indeed.
:)
john piper says our we should live in a "wartime" mindset. we should constantly be trying to save lives and win the spiritual war by giving everything we have to his cause.
good stuff homeboy.
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