A Note of Encouragement

from Ciloa

Living in the power of God?

Volume XVI, Issue 15

April 11, 2016

Power: ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something.

God has power. I have power. But the extent and reach of our power is shaped by who we are. God can gather up nothing and create the universe. I can make a cup of coffee. Well, to be fair, the machine makes the coffee, but I have the power to push the button. Oh, yes.

Each of us has power. At the very least, we have the ability to translate ideas into action. This is self-generated power. But we also have access to power that boggles the mind.

The Word of God says a lot about power, especially when it comes to Jesus. He turned water into wine, calmed raging storms, walked on water, and fed thousands. He knew a person's thoughts and motives. He healed the blind, deaf, and lame. He raised the dead.

Jesus was Emmanuel...God with us. He literally had the power of God flowing through Him as He reached out to others. But there's something interesting about that power to heal.

Once men tried to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus, but the crowd was too large. So they went to the roof, removed some tiles, and lowered the man down to Him. Seeing such faith, Jesus told the man, Friend, your sins are forgiven.

As many argued, "Only God can forgive sins," Jesus said, Why are you reasoning in your hearts? To show He had such authority, He told the paralyzed man, Get up. And he did, because the power of God was present for Jesus to heal. *

Heal means to make whole and has broad application. Makes sense, doesn't it? After all, Jesus' first action was to heal the man spiritually. Only later did He heal him physically. Could the power to heal go farther than illness and disease? Jesus answered this in a parable.

One day the King will separate the people. Those on his right will have his blessing, for when the He was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, poorly clothed, sick, and in prison, they cared for him. **

Here the word translated as sick means weak. The King was saying, "I was weak and you looked after me. As you did this for the least of my brothers, you were doing it for me."

How do we become weak? Illness and disease, certainly. But what about doubt, fear, anxiety, guilt, loneliness, sorrow, shame, grief, timidity, and depression? These also cause us to be weak, often leaving us to drown in a sea of discouragement.

Discouragement affects people physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. But God can heal them. And the way He wants to reach them is through you and me!

We battle discouragement by encouraging each other every day. How can that happen? Because God's power is present within us to heal the discouraged...the weak...the sick. But there's more.

Woman with outstretched arms, looking over a city

When you encourage someone, you will be encouraged.

When you care for the weak, you will be strengthened.

Joy will fill your heart as God's power flows through you.

Want that kind of life?

Encourage someone...today...tomorrow. And live in the power of God.

Take care & be God's,

Chuck

* See Luke 5:17-26

** See Matthew 25:34-40

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