News: Mom and I helped at Jon and Laura's wedding yesterday. There were so many people there (and they all wanted a drink at the exact same time)! I was dubbed "woman of the hour" for my quick run to Lowes' Foods for extra ice-we had run out after only 10 or 15 minutes! But it was fun. I enjoy being busy :-). There's something exhilerating about bustling around-feeling important, maybe? And probably some of God's blessing of joy on our service-He does like to bless us, doesn't He?
Nugget: Ephesians talks a lot about power. Here is some examples:
God's power is described as...
exceedingly great (1:19)
mighty (1:19)
life-giving (raised Christ from the dead - 1:20 - and us - 2:5)
able to "seat [Christ] at His right hand in the heavenly places" (1:20 - and us - 2:6)
ruling over all (1:21)
gift-giving (3:7)
working in us! (3:20)
giving us strength and might (6:10)
Other mentions of power:
Christ rules over "all power" (and principality and might and dominion - 1:21)
the devil is the "prince of the power of the air" (2:2)
the church reveals God's wisdom to the "powers in the heavenly places" (3:10)
we wrestle against powers (6:12)
More importantly, whenever God's power and another power is mentioned, God rules- 1:21, 2:2-4, and in other places, the Bible confirms that our wrestling (6:12) is ultimately victorious through Him. PTL!
1 comment:
And He is mighty indeed! Two of the most amazing things I find about God's infinite power and perfection:
a) It is coupled with infinite love and mercy. He loves us! Sinful, weak; and yet 2 Timothy tells us that "when we are faithless, He is faithful". His amazing power is shown even more clearly in our weakness, and He carries us through every trial. He uses this strength to protect and nurture us, rather than destroy us. He also holds back His holy wrath from the unsaved--in His infinite mercy, He allows them to hear the gospel that they might repent and be saved!
b) It is revealed most clearly in weakness. This is the Creator of the universe. All powerful--"exceedingly great (1:19)
mighty (1:19)
life-giving (raised Christ from the dead - 1:20 - and us - 2:5)
able to "seat [Christ] at His right hand in the heavenly places" (1:20 - and us - 2:6)
ruling over all (1:21)
gift-giving (3:7)
working in us! (3:20)
giving us strength and might (6:10)
Christ rules over "all power" (and principality and might and dominion - 1:21)"
And yet!--He humbled Himself, becoming a man, a servant no less, and died on a cross for our sins! God didn't even have to snap His fingers, and man would be obliterated and a new, perfect race would be created, but instead He died on a cross(and the man who hangs on a tree is cursed!) for our sin. Why? That He may be glorified! His power, mercy, love; all these things are most clearly visible in the cross when He died for us, paying our debt and giving us heaven. Praise the Lord indeed!
--Josiah C.
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