Powerless
Where in the Bible does it say .. do it on your own, you have the power? Not in these verses.
- Whoever clings to his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life shall save it. Luke 17:33
- For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did. Romans 8:13
- For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You. II Chronicles 20:12
- Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me? Teach me, and I will be quiet Job 6:13, 24
But there are lots of verses that show us God has the power and He freely gives it to us!
- I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5
- I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
- He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Isaiah 40:29
Consider with us Paul’s words in Colossians 1:29. To this end, I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Paul obviously had a goal. Your goal may be to stop overeating, overcome grief, build a stronger marriage, forgive a wrong, or end a harmful habit. Paul admits he works hard, he struggles to meet his goals.
Ask yourself this question, where does Paul say he gets his energy to keep trying? From digging deeper inside? By reaching down and pulling himself up by his bootstraps? By relying on his own will power? By being a Jedi and feeling the force? Nope!
Paul is not using the strength that he generates. Paul clearly gives credit to the energy in him as coming from God. He identifies this dynamic energy as “Christ in me.”
Paul admits to his struggles, to the work he puts in to meet his goals, and that Christ provides the energy he needs. This Easter as we celebrate the most significant event in all history, what is stopping you from admitting you are powerless without Christ?
After the request for social distancing is over ..
with the power of Christ, work on our hurts, hang-ups, and harmful habits.
