Power
The third building block Paul prayed that the Ephesian Christians would recognize is that of the immeasurable greatness of God’s power toward those who believe. Paul is not talking about power on display like we taught of during our 2017-2018 lessons on Revelation. It is a prayer that Christians will see God’s extension of his power toward the believer.
It is one thing to talk of power or love or things. It is another to see it in play. This Thanksgiving I saw God’s power in play in Albany, Georgia. My mind quickly jumps down through the tangles that gather about the feet of grandiose visions. A disaster relief event on the scale that Samaritan’s Purse deploys is big, big, big. It is expensive and requires many people. When one goes on a tour like this even for just a day-and-a-half like we did some undeniables are there.
One undeniable relates to the cleanup of yard debris. What 20-odd people coming in the name of Christ can do to a yard in an hour and a half is startling. We show up at a disaster scene, and an hour and a half later that person’s place is transformed. I clean up a lot of things by myself (I have two yards and a bunch of trees). It can be hard work. But what about when people pull together to do something like that in the name of Jesus Christ? Wow, is probably the best three letters that describe it: minimal complaining, crazy effort, togetherness, and many other things.
Then there are the homeowners, people who previously were healthy and able, but life, energy and other things have reduced them to subsistence. The storms did not skip their properties, but no storm of money came along to bail them out. So, they sit in their leaky houses, watch TV, smoke, and exist. Then up show these people and fix up their place, pray for them with nothing expected in return. Of course, the team leader does ask to pray with them and a Bible is given, but the only people who complain about that side of these missions are those on the outside pontificating. The helped homeowners are dissolved by what has been done for them.
A third group that encompasses these events are people who drive by or see you at the hotel in your orange Samaritan’s Purse shirts. Conversations are struck up. They are positive, engaged events. These things like the homeowner’s responses are evoked. The undeniable altruism and its God connection make people respond.
Some will denigrate the Christian motive, but aspersion or not something happens in yards, people, and those who watch. It works. It is God’s power on display for those who are Christians and those who or on track toward repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ. In some ways, I am still in a funk over what I saw of God’s power in those 12 working hours in Albany. I have needs, but they are internal. I can take care of trees on my lawn physically or with my credit card. Trees on my mental lawn, though, are a different matter entirely. I guess (and I say guess, because it is part of my current figuring) I need a Samaritan’s Purse of God to come along my mental way and clean up the sidewalk to my house. Maybe trips to Albany are part of that.
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