The Power Of Life
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life.”
II Peter 1:3 (NIV)
When I was about six years old my father, who was a radio and TV engineer, removed from our living room for repair, the workings of the radio and record player he had built into the alcove near the fireplace. This left an interesting space for a six year old to investigate.
There were a number of coloured wires dangling down which looked ideal for playing with and there were a number of holes that caused an inquisitive six year old to wonder if those wires could be made to fit into the holes. The holes (as I know now but didn’t then) were in a 15 amp 240 volt mains socket. In those days such sockets didn’t have guards on them to prevent people putting things in that they shouldn’t (as they do now). One by one I put these coloured wires in and nothing happened, but just as I was beginning to get bored and preparing to move on to something more exciting I put the last wire in and there was an enormous explosion. There was a terrific flash of light, I was momentarily blinded and I shot backwards and found myself on the floor. My right hand was tingling, as I looked at it I saw it was all black. By God’s grace the wires were thin and vapourised otherwise I may not be here today.
I learned a very valuable lesson that day: you don’t play around with wires and 240 volts at 15 amps is a lot of power. Even if you can’t see it the power is still there and with that kind of power flowing through the wires something is going to happen. It’s true of us too. We have God’s power within us. It isn’t always obvious. As we look at each other we don’t look very powerful, but the power is there.
Peter in his second epistle talks about the divine power we have been given. II Peter 1:3a says “His divine power has given us everything we need for life.” Paul says similar things in his letter to the church at Philippi when he says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Phil 4:13).
Just like electricity, divine power is not seen and, just like electricity, because it isn’t seen doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Peter in his second epistle goes on to describe how that divine power is seen, and it is seen when we put it to use.
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge; self control; and to self control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Peter 1:5-8).
God’s power is the power we need for daily living and when we use it to bring these Christian qualities Peter speaks of here into our lives, qualities such as goodness and self control, humility and kindness and love, then we are effective Christians, Christians whose lives are impacting on others and in whose lives the power of God is seen as we touch them with God’s grace. Electricity can throw us across a room if we don’t know what we are doing, just think what God’s power can do for others if we use it wisely and touch others with it.
Prayer
Powerful Father, through your power work in us. Help us to go in your power to serve one another, set a Christian example and bring hope to the world today.
Amen
Study by Ray WalkerÂ