A Closer Walk
Do you feel powerful? Feel like you are able or equipped to meet anything life sends your way? "Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us," Ephesians 3:20 NASB.
We don't need to be all powerful, or all knowing. Be- cause we have someone who actually is those things and more. The Him in the verse above is Almighty God. Ques- tion: Anyone ever refer to you as almighty? Me neither. Why is God referred to this way? Because He IS Almighty. There is no power He lacks. There is no might He does not possess. He is The Lord God Almighty.
"Now to Him who is able...". Is our God able? Yes! Ab- solutely! Able to do what? Anything He decides, with or to, anyone or anything He desires. He is Able! He has the power and might to accomplish whatever He wishes. He parted the Red Sea so the Israelites could cross. He saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the blazing fur- nace. They didn't even smell like smoke when they came out. And God raised Jesus from the dead after He had paid the atoning price for all our sins. This is the creator and sustainer of the universe.
The phrase exceeding abundantly is intriguing. The word abundance speaks of plenty, more than enough, or more than we need. Yet in the verse the word exceeding accompanies the word abundantly. Not only is He able to do abundantly, but He is able to do exceeding abun- dantly. Seems that would indicate more than plenty, way more than enough, and certainly lots more than we need. Even abundance beyond all that we ask, or all that we can even think.
This abundance is according to the power that works within us. Wait. What? Within us? "...but you shall re- ceive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you...", Acts 1:8 NASB. As believers we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, the third member of the Triune Godhead. This Spirit works with us, in us, and on us to help us become more like Christ. And to help us accomplish what our Lord has chosen for us to accomplish. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand...", Ephesians 2:10 NASB. Using the potter and clay spoken of in Isaiah 64 to illustrate, each and every one of us has been shaped and molded by God to be used by Him for the purpose He desires. This purpose determined how and why we were shaped and molded the way we are. A water pitcher has a different purpose than a pot or a vase, consequently it has been shaped and molded differently than the others. Ephesians tells us that our Lord had specific good works in mind for us before He began our shaping and molding.
Our Lord has things for us to do. Assigned tasks if you will. Certain things have been chosen by our God for you and I to accomplish. I can't do what He chose for you. And you can't do what He chose for me. But in doing them we will be obedient to our God, and blessed because of our obedience. We will be pleasing to God. He may even say, "Well done, good and faithful servant".
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Veteran's Day is November 11. A grateful salute to all the veterans out there. A hearty “Thank You!”, to all of you for your service to our nation and to her citizens. May our God bless you and keep you. Amen.