Power To Live

2 Peter 1v3-10 (ESV) 

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him … his precious and very  great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature... make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue and self-control … and godliness and... brotherly affection and …with love. Therefore… be the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practise these qualities you will never fall.” 

 We have been looking this week at ways in which God works powerfully in our lives, but sometimes slowly and almost imperceptibly, over time.  

 Our final ‘quiet power’ is the power God gives us, by his Spirit, to live a godly life. Perhaps this is the ultimate area where we may not perceive that God is at work (in terms of obvious outward demonstrations of power) but, hopefully, over time, we can see more of his divine nature in our actions and characteristics - becoming more like Christ. 

 Paul talks about us living lives ‘worthy of the Lord’ and Jesus makes it clear that ‘not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of  heaven but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.’ (Matthew 7v21).  

 So real life and practical living are the bedrock of our living for Jesus and where he longs to empower us. ‘..and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith...’ (2 Thessalonians 1v11-12). Spiritual fruit produced in real life. 

 So here is our challenge - how evident is the power of God in changing me and making me more like Jesus? Let us be encouraged that God is powerful and is at work in us. Paul talks in his letter to the Ephesians about God’s immeasurably great power towards us who believe, and tells us that God can do abundantly far more than all that we ask or think, through the power at work within us.

Let's be intentional about allowing God to work in us, even if it takes time and is, at times, a relatively hard road to travel, so that we can press on, as Paul did, to win 'the prize for which God has called me in Christ Jesus.' (Philippians 3:14) 

Prayer — Lord I need more of your power in my life. Thank you for the power you give me to serve and follow you. Come and work in and through me to fulfil your plans and purposes. May I walk by your Spirit every day and see your glory increasingly displayed in my day-to-day life. In Jesus’ name.