Tuesday, August 20, 2013

By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo 

Living Proof

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my WITNESSES in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

One thing that I love about being a Christian is that I do not have to live a powerless life. So many walk through life with an attitude that "whatever happens, happens." That is NOT my approach in life. God has given us power through the Holy Spirit to be overcomers. Romans 8:37 encourages us that "we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

Salvation is just the beginning of our relationship with the Lord. When Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven, He informed the disciples that the Holy Spirit would come upon them. The main purpose of the Holy Spirit was to empower them (and us) to be WITNESSES. A witness is defined as "something serving as evidence or proof."

We are God's living proof to this world. Our lives should tell of the love and power of Jesus Christ NOT a story of defeat and compromise. Jesus is victorious! 1 Corinthians 15:57 says, "... He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ."

We should be like "superheroes" of our faith. We should be able to conquer things that just don't make sense to the rest of the world.

However, 2 Timothy 3 issues a warning that we should all heed. This chapter warns that we will face difficult times and that people will only love themselves and money. These individuals will be boastful, disobedient, ungrateful, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, and uncontrollable.

Verse 3 says that these same people will also "act religious, but they will reject the POWER that could make them godly..."

We lose all power that God makes available to us when we live disobediently...driven by our own desires. The actions described above are very much like "kryptonite" to our Christian walks --- causing us to grow weak. Galatians 5:25 directs us instead to "follow the Spirit's leading in EVERY part of our lives."

God infused us with His power for a very specific purpose...to be His living proof. I challenge you today to live a life worthy of exemplifying His name. Commit to live a life that brings honor to God. By doing so, not only will you inherit eternity with Him one day, but you can also walk in divine favor and power on earth as well.

Dear Lord, Thank You that You have given me power to face each day and to live victoriously through YOU!

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.