Day 20

“The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Some years ago, I traveled on an overnight bus from Glasgow to London. A few miles into the journey, it became clear that one of the passengers was quite inebriated, and was being a nuisance and bothersome to other passengers. After several complaints, the driver made attempts to ask him to get off the bus and travel again when he was sober. The man totally ignored him. He continued disturbing the passengers, so the bus driver drove into a little town and pulled up outside a police station.

Two big uniformed police officers came onto the bus, whisked the man from his seat, and to the applause of the remaining passengers, hauled him off the bus and up the steps of the police station. The driver had all the authority he needed to tell the man to disembark the bus, but he lacked the power to make it happen. The policemen, on the hand, had both the authority and the power to act.

After Jesus rose from the dead, He said to His disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18). That gives Jesus Christ the exclusive right to tell us what to do. It may seem intimidating to us because, like the bus driver, we know we don’t have the resources or capability to accomplish it, BUT we must never detach the Lordship of Christ from the dynamic power of His Holy Spirit within us. It is by His Spirit we are empowered to fulfill that which His authority demands of us.

Jesus promised His disciples that when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they would receive power, not increased power of their own, but the power of Christ, Himself, living in them. Until the day of Pentecost, when they received the Spirit, they were weak and cowardly men, but then suddenly began boldly preaching the Gospel, regardless of consequences to themselves. The only explanation for this radical change was “Christ in them”.

When the risen Lord gives us instructions, He also provides the empowerment to do it. Our own resources, strategies and abilities don’t enter into play. It is solely the Holy Spirit who makes carrying out what the Lord commands possible. That is why Paul writes, “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” We need to believe that and rest in His sufficiency.

Prayer: Dear Lord, what a privilege it is to be working with you. How grateful I am that it is with your authority over me, and your dynamic power in me, that I can serve you well. I submit to your Lordship and ask you to keep me alert to every opportunity you give me to serve you.

To reflect upon: Have I refused to act according to the Lord’s calling out of concern for a lack of my own ability? Or have I stepped out in faith, completely confident the Lord’s purpose will be accomplished in His power through me?