01/03/2023
Maya Angelou once wrote, “When we know better, we do better.” I would only add…hopefully, but not always. The Apostle Paul seemed to have a bit of this problem as well: “For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Romans 7:18b-19). Did Paul know better? Yes, indeed. He was a pretty smart, redeemed and faithful fellow. But he still struggled with his sinful nature, as do we all.
Good information doesn’t always lead to good decision making. We need something else. We need something that empowers information, something that transfers information into action leading to transformation.
One passage of Scripture speaks to this, I believe, more than any other, “14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father[b], 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever" (Ephesians 3:14-21).
It’s God’s power that is at work within us. Paul makes that abundantly clear in verse 20. But how do we receive that power? How do we position ourselves, open ourselves, humble ourselves?
From the passage above, part of the outcomes we experience this year are contingent upon our making decisions to position us in the best place possible to move forward with our hopes and dreams.
· Faith leading to action (Eph. 3:17-19)
· Prayer leading to trust (Eph. 3:14b)
· Discipline flowing from grace (Eph. 3:16)
· Community overpowering isolation (Eph. 3:15)
It is a choice. For example, if I want to bless my children, but they turn away from me, or they think that my blessing comes with strings attached, or they don’t want to admit that they could really use the help and choose not to receive it, I can’t give them my blessing. Likewise, we have to be in position, open, and humble to receive the blessing of God’s strength, provision, and power.
Are you ready? Then make this a year of decision. Faith—prayer—discipline—community: these position us in the best place possible to move forward with hope. Let’s join together to deepen our faith and be on mission for Jesus in 2023!
This blog was excerpted from my sermon on January 1, 2023. For the full message, watch here or click "Watch" at the top of this page.
