POWER TO BECOME

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."  (John 1:12, 13).

Power is something that many men - and women - seek in this world.  The power to amass wealth, the power to lead others, and the power to command respect are all ways in which people seek to wield power.  God offers us something more, however: the power to become the sons of God.  He is not promising us merely a title (for this would require no power at all), but He is promising us the ability to become spiritually mature sons of God, having the same characteristics as the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  He has promised us that we can be "partakers of the divine nature," and be changed into His image.  (2 Peter 1:4). 

How do we receive such power?  It is simply a matter of receiving Jesus Christ, and believing on the power of His name.  When we do this, something very supernatural happens.  We become born again into the family of God.  This has nothing to do with joining a church, being baptized, reading the Bible, or praying.  It is more about believing and accepting than it is about doing.  All of those things may be the result of believing, but they are certainly not the means.  Going to church makes you no more a Christian than sleeping in the garden makes you a radish, and being baptized in water before you have been born again just makes you wet.  Even the Bible itself can be unhelpful if all we see is the dead letters of words instead of the living Lord Who is the Word of God.  (John 1:1-4)  No, it is all about letting Jesus be the Savior of our lives, and allowing Him to transform us from inside out.  Once our hearts are changed, and we are willing to receive what the Lord wants in our lives, everything else will begin to fall into line.

There is a simple story in the gospel of John that illustrates beautifully the Christian experience.  It occurs just after Jesus fed 5000 people with just a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish.  As soon as the people were fed, and Jesus had sent them away, the disciples got in a ship and headed across the lake to Capernaum.  In the midst of the sea, a bad storm blew up and they began rowing to keep the ship on course.  After they had struggled for about 3 or 3 1/2 miles, they spotted Jesus walking across the water to come to them.  Their first reaction was fear, but Jesus spoke to them and said "It is I; be not afraid."  Scripture tells us that they "willingly received Him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went."  (John 6:16-21).

The lesson in the story is one that we all can relate to.  Often we find ourselves struggling alone against the storms that life brings our way.  We labor with all our might to do the right things, to make the right choices, and to be better people; but for every mile we row, it sometimes feels as if we get blown back two.  That's when Jesus comes to us.  He shows Himself in His glory: the Master of the Sea!  Storms are not a problem for Him!  Our reaction, however, instead of elation is often fear.  We are afraid of what receiving Jesus into our lives is going to mean.  What will He ask of us?  What will He require?  How will we have to change?  Many folks find it easier to continue struggling than to let the Lord in their ship and so find rest and safety.  Jesus always comforts us in our fear.  He says, "It is I; be not afraid."  If we are wise, we follow the disciples' example, and receive the Lord into our ship.  When we do, we find that we miraculously arrive at our destination.  The Lord gives us power to become all that He requires.  Our rowing will never get us there, but just receiving the Lord will.

I find this scenario being played out again and again in my life.  As I endeavor to live for the Lord, I often find myself rowing instead of trusting.  It's then that the Lord reminds me that it is He that gives me power to be changed, and to be fashioned into His glorious image a little here, and a little there.

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."  (2 Corinthians 3:18).

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