My Inbox of Daily Inspirations: Daily Heartlight -- February 2, 2008

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February 2, 2008

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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================

The God of Power, by Bill Sherrill

Most folks, including Christians, have little concept of the power
which is available to those who follow the LORD. In fact, much of the
so-called Christian world spends much of its energy trying to remove
the miraculous vestiges from the Bible and replace them with "natural
phenomena." They say creation was just a way of explaining evolution to
ignorant and superstitious people. The story of Noah was the result of
a local flood. The Children of Israel crossed the Jordan River during
the dry season. On and on we could go. We may spend considerable time
arguing with the "unbeliever" about these and other events, but our
real problem is that too many Christians, too many of us, while
defending the theories of God's power, do not really accept it in our
own lives today.

Many professing to be followers of Jesus today, actually grew up loving
the great stories of God's power in the Bible account, but cannot bring
that power into the 21st Century. While thrilling at the accounts of
faith recorded of the faithful in Scripture, they stumble at the
thought of God supporting men of faith today with power and might. What
a tragic loss!

What a tragic loss!

This "past power" kind of faith in God is a little reminiscent of
Paul's confrontation of the Galatians: "Have you lost your senses?
After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now
trying to become perfect by your own human effort?" (Galatians 3:3 NLT).
I wonder if after seeking to know God because of His great creative and
sustaining power proclaimed in the Bible, how many today are now trying
to "attain (their) goal by human effort."

Review the great stories of God's mighty works. Study the faith-filled
souls recorded in the "Faith Hall of Fame" (Hebrews 11). Reflect on the
promise of God's Son as he says, "And surely I am with you always, to
the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20 TNIV). Spend time in prayer
considering this truth, "So, you see, it is impossible to please God
without faith" (Hebrews 11:6 NLT).

With Joshua of old we hear the plea, "Choose for yourselves this day
whom you will serve ... But as for me and my house, we will serve the
Lord" (Joshua 24:15 NASB). Joshua's people were torn between the gods
of the very people who had fallen before the might of the "living and
true God" (1 Thessalonians 1:9 NASB) and the God of Power. People today
are not all that different. They can serve a powerless god of human
wisdom and logic, or they can serve the "One True and Living God" of
power and mystery. However, they cannot serve both! Neither can we!

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful,
proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control,
brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God -- having a form of
godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them (2
Timothy 3:1-5 NIV).

---------
(c) 2008 Bill Sherrill <sherrill@cox-internet.com>'s Thought for
the Week. Used by permission.

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Daily Heartlight -- February 2, 2008