The Power to Live and Love

This morning I was reading out of the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 19 and I noticed how Jesus was stretching the minds and hearts of the disciples. Here are two specific sections, pay attention to the disciples responses to both statements by Jesus:

Matthew 19:8-10, 23-26 NIV
[8] "Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. [9] I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

[10] The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”

[23] Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. [24] Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

[25] When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

[26] Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

It is interesting that in the same chapter Jesus is addressing both marriage and wealth, two topics that are very much under fire these days in America, but for different reasons. I think one could simply state Jesus' teaching with one statement, that 'following Him isn't always a cake walk'.

Following Him requires us to move past our own wants and needs and consider others first. It means laying down our lives for others (John 15:13), loving them as we would want to be loved (Matt 19:19). It means loving with action, not mere words (1 John 3:18). This applies to our wives, our families and those we interact with every day, as well as to complete strangers (Luke 10:25-37), and even our enemies(Luke 6:35).

When confronted with that list I can have a very similar reaction to the disciples, questioning the possibility of this for any human. The really good news is that God doesn't expect us to be able to do this on our own - see Jesus' statement in verse 26. He believes it is impossible for man to do these things on his own (John 15:5). I like a statement that Brother Lawrence used to make when he realized his sin, he would say, "What do you expect Lord, I am a sinner.". He was simply stating the fact that apart from God's help we are incapable of doing all He calls us to do.

So then, how are we supposed to successfully follow Jesus? He provides the answer to that as well. We need God's help. The other good news is that He provides us the very help we need in the person of the Holy Spirit, resident in us (John 14:17; Romans 8:9). The Holy Spirit provides the strength and power we need. Jesus even told the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit to be given to them because then they would receive power (Acts 1:4-8). The Geek word for power here is dunamis, from which we have the word dynamite! The word meant strength, power, ability, authority, resources and influence to do something.

As I look at this all, I am convinced that it is not the Lord's will that we feel defeated by our own weakness, but rather that we experience the very real power and strength of the Holy Spirit. He wants us to know the power we have in Him, to see victory instead of defeat! When He stretches us out of our comfort zone, or out of our physical or emotional abilities, it is so He can step in and show us His Glorious power, on our behalf. These things are impossible to do by ourselves, but with the Power of the Holy Spirit, all things are possible!

Amen, let us pray for and receive the Power of the Holy Spirit which God makes available for all of us for our daily lives. Let us receive the Power of the Holy Spirit to help us in our marriages, in our work, in our relationships, in our ministry and in our lives!