More Power to You!

Several years ago, my wife and I purchased a used vehicle from the Portland area. Driving home, I noticed her driving was a bit erratic at times as I followed from behind. When we got home, she described that something was wrong with the steering of our newly purchased car. I gave it a test drive myself and was disappointed to discover the same frustration. Days passed as we considered how big of a mistake we had just made. 

Thankfully, we soon realized that the problem was not with the car but with the drivers! Our perceived “steering problem” was simply the modern vehicle engaging in the “lane assist” steering guidance system. What we perceived as a mechanical malfunction was actually an updated safety feature. Welcome to the 21st century! There were actually several features of the car that took us some time to discover and employ. 

As citizens in God’s Kingdom, we are called to understand and embrace all that God has for us. Often, features of our faith can be overlooked. The apostle Paul prayed that the “eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18-19). 

I am now familiar with all of the newfangled features of our latest vehicle. Even more so, as followers of Christ, we should be intimately familiar with these features (hope, riches, power) of our faith. Specifically, forgetting the true magnitude of His power that lives within us is a common failing. Paul explains that this power “is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:19-20)

That’s incredible! The Easter season is a great reminder of the scale of God’s power to raise His son from the grave. Remarkably, this same power is available to us who believe! I’ve often pondered what Jesus said in John 14:12, “whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

God's provision for these greater works is the same power He demonstrated when we rescued His crucified Son from the grave as a perfect redemption for all sin. Easter is a time to celebrate not only what God has done but also what He is doing! The departure of Jesus from the earth to His Father's side in heaven was no accident. We are equipped and expected to reveal His power through our lives. The ride God has scheduled for each of us has glorious views and unexpected turns. As we sit in the driver's seat of our lives, may we daily commit to accessing and releasing God's power in our weakness! ​