Whose Energy Are you Using?
Paul wrote a letter to the church in Colosse to encourage them and commended them for their growth in the Christian faith. At the end of the chapter 1 of this letter that we call Colossians Paul wrote that he was admonishing and teaching everyone and said, "To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy which so powerfully works in me." Col. 1:29. Notice that Paul did not say he was using his own energy, but the energy that the Lord gave him. I don't think there is such a thing as a spiritual energy meter, but if there was I can just imagine the difference there would be in reading what my energy level is compared to the energy that the Lord has that works powerfully. I think my energy level would read about 1/100 while his energy would be 100/100.
Scripture tells us to not become weary in well doing (Gal. 6:9, 2 Thes. 3:13). We can only accomplish that by depending upon the energy of the Holy Spirit rather than our own human energy. The Lord showed Zerubbabel a mountain and told him that the ground before him would become level, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit."
After Jesus' resurrection he appeared to his disciples twice, but he wasn't with them all the time. I can imagine their discouragement. They were elated that he was alive again but he wasn't with them physically all day and night as he had been for three and one-half years. So Peter decided to return to his old ways, to something that he knew well. He said "I go a fishing." Six other disciples said they would go with him. (See what influence we have on others.) They fished all night and caught nothing. (Working in the power of their own energy!!) Then Jesus appeared to them a third time, standing on the shore. He called to them, asking if they had any fish. He didn't berate them for fishing again, or taunt them with the fact that they had no fish. He just told them to throw their net on the right side of the boat and they would find some. (Doing things God's way and in the power of his energy.) They did as Jesus told them and caught 153 fish and what's more the net did not break.
I find when I try to do things in my own strength all that happens is, I get tired.!! But when God's energy works through me it's him working and not me and I actually feel energized. That's when things get accomplished and God gets the glory. There have been times when I forced myself to talk to someone about the Lord and it bombed. But today I felt the Lord prompting me to share some things with my lawyer. I had to be at his office to sign some papers. He had told me earlier that he didn't think we could know God personally. So I shared with him some personal experiences, how the Lord prompted me to read Psalm 37 when I desperately needed confirmation that we were in the right place in Holland. We had only been there seven months and my husband and oldest son ended up in the hospital from a car accident, car totaled, no insurance, etc, etc. Should we stay or go home? Psalm 37:3 said "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture." Then I shared with him how the Lord told Ben where my rings were when I lost them on the bottom of Mission Bay. Those two experiences were certainly God meeting me personally!! I've given him something to think about and the Lord can bring this to his memory again and again. It's His energy working.
I just want to be the vessel and let his energy flow through me. His energy accomplishes so much more than I do.
Tomorrows Bible Reading - Leviticus 4, Psalm 1-2, Proverbs 19, Colossians 2
God is good all the time,
Naomi Brinkman
1 comment:
I always need to be reminded that it's not on my own strength, or using my own energy for when I do that I end up tired and usually frustrated. This blog was a good reminder for me, thanks!
Post a Comment