NSM Evotional 07/31/2012

A Glory Seed Devotional
Power versus Power…

But I will reveal My name to My people, and they will come to know its power. Then at last they will recognize that I am the One who speaks to them." (Isaiah 52:6 NLT)

We worship a God of power, all one needs to do is to witness the fury of a thunderstorm to experience just a “taste” of how powerful God is and powerless we really are. Yet God’s power not only lies in fury and beauty of nature but also in his ability to love and forgive.

We live in a world that is power misguided, in a world that does not comprehend the power available to us very well. An unfortunate example of our inability to comprehend the power we have is in the terrible tragedy of Aurora, Colorado. Other examples include political power, parental power, employer power, peer pressure, the power a spouse has over the other spouse.

Today’s scripture talks about revealing and recognizing God’s power. I am convinced one of the reasons God needed to take human form in Jesus was to illustrate not only God’s power but how to correctly use the power available to us for the greater good. Jesus’ greatest display of power was not in his ability to still the storms, to give sight to the blind, to heal diseases, to give life back to the dead as powerful a display as they were. Jesus’ greatest display of power occurred out of the sight of others. Satan tempted Jesus three times and each time he utilized God’s power to remain true to God and then while praying the night of his arrest Jesus once again against great temptation remained true to God and each of us. Every exercise of power Jesus did he did for God not himself.

The true power Jesus came to reveal and exercise is found in chapter 42 of Isaiah. “Look at My Servant, whom I strengthen. He is My Chosen One, who pleases Me. I have put My Spirit upon Him. He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or raise His voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. He will not falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for His instruction.” (Isaiah 42:1-4 NLT)

Our greatest responsibility as Christians – believers and followers of Jesus – is to live out and exercise the power of God as revealed through and instilled in us by the Holy Spirit. As Christians, our greatest calling is to unite ourselves behind Jesus and actively illustrate to a power misguided world the true exercise of power.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! (Isaiah 52:7 NLT)

Grace and PEACE!
Gary


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“Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.”