Skip to main content

Power

             For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. (I Corinthians 4:20)

 

            Yesterday, the kingdom was not about food and drink, but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Today, it’s not about talk, but about power. For the next few days, we’ll encounter more things the kingdom isn’t about or doesn’t include. So, with my most comic-opera evil chuckle, I’ll say, “Let’s talk about power.”

            That’s what we think, isn’t it? If it’s about power, it’s about the ability to make what we want to happen. Right? It’s our job to bring in that righteousness, peace, and joy we considered yesterday. Isn’t it? I just finished a chapter in the book I’m reading about self-discipline. The author suggests that the power we need is power over ourselves. He goes on to suggest that the first means to that power is fasting – choosing to withhold from ourselves something we want, with the goal of being free to make choices instead of being a slave to one’s whims or habits. It doesn’t have to be about food. It could just as easily be a TV show, or Facebook, or whatever controls your life.

            Nor does it have to be all day long, or for three days, or some other specific period, though that is useful in building the habit of self-control. It can be now – for a specific meal or the next thirty minutes.

            And that leads us back to the righteousness, peace, and joy mentioned  yesterday. Imagine the peace and joy if your body learns that “No means no.” As I consider all of the possible things I “should” fast, the two that come to mind are popcorn and distraction. The latter would probably do me more good. It’s so easy to get into the “I must do it all right now mode.” Feel free to call me on it if I start getting wound up about it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Virgin?

           Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)           This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)           But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”            “How will this be,” Mary asked the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Higher Thoughts

  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the  Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)           The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,   for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord      so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:15-16) If you read about the ancient gods of the various peoples, you’ll find that they think just like people. In fact, they think just like the sort of people we really wouldn’t want to be around. They think like the most corrupt Hollywood producer or, like hormone overloaded teens with no upbringing.   It’s embarrassing to read. I have a friend who argues that because God is not just like us, He is so vastly dif...
2 comments
Read more

Saved?

  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:4)   What conclusion do you draw when someone who was raised in a Christian family and church, perhaps even playing a significant role in a chur...
Post a Comment
Read more