“You cannot do God’s work without God’s power”.
That is the lesson that the apostles learned in Luke 9. They had tried to heal a sick boy and, in spite of their best efforts, they could not do it. When they asked Jesus why they failed, he talked to them about their need for stronger faith (Matthew 17:19-21), a more consistent prayer life (Mark 9:29) and a real belief in him (Luke 9:41). Apparently, they had forgotten where their strength came from.
Why would anyone try to do God’s work by his or her own strength? Well, to be honest, it is easier. If we do not have to consider God, then we can make plans, set goals and decide on our own what we are going to do. Faith becomes a straight line from “point A” to “point B”. Rally the troops, get people excited, work hard and get it done.
By contrast, working with God’s power can seem quite inefficient. Things like praying, waiting on God, trusting in him, making yourself available to be used and serving your neighbour take tremendous amounts of time and energy. Rather than looking like a straight line from here to there, this type of faith looks much more like a river winding its way across a valley. It is slow and inefficient.
Now, I am not arguing that we should never make plans. My concern is that when my strength, my plans and my goals are the focus, God can be left out of the picture completely. We then become tempted to “sort things out” and to push for the results that we want to see happen, regardless of what God could be doing in the situation.
That makes me wonder: Is it possible that some of the things that you and I are trying so hard to fix could be “healed” if we were working with something more than our own power and strength?
As the old saying goes, “When we work, we work. When we pray, God works”.
In that light, the “inefficient” things of God are not so bad after all.
“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11).
That is the lesson that the apostles learned in Luke 9. They had tried to heal a sick boy and, in spite of their best efforts, they could not do it. When they asked Jesus why they failed, he talked to them about their need for stronger faith (Matthew 17:19-21), a more consistent prayer life (Mark 9:29) and a real belief in him (Luke 9:41). Apparently, they had forgotten where their strength came from.
Why would anyone try to do God’s work by his or her own strength? Well, to be honest, it is easier. If we do not have to consider God, then we can make plans, set goals and decide on our own what we are going to do. Faith becomes a straight line from “point A” to “point B”. Rally the troops, get people excited, work hard and get it done.
By contrast, working with God’s power can seem quite inefficient. Things like praying, waiting on God, trusting in him, making yourself available to be used and serving your neighbour take tremendous amounts of time and energy. Rather than looking like a straight line from here to there, this type of faith looks much more like a river winding its way across a valley. It is slow and inefficient.
Now, I am not arguing that we should never make plans. My concern is that when my strength, my plans and my goals are the focus, God can be left out of the picture completely. We then become tempted to “sort things out” and to push for the results that we want to see happen, regardless of what God could be doing in the situation.
That makes me wonder: Is it possible that some of the things that you and I are trying so hard to fix could be “healed” if we were working with something more than our own power and strength?
As the old saying goes, “When we work, we work. When we pray, God works”.
In that light, the “inefficient” things of God are not so bad after all.
“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11).
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