STRENGTH FROM GOD

2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.
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In college, a male student has to attend the ROTC (Reserved Officers Training Corps). This is to prepare us in eventualities of war or other emergency situations that need beefing up military and police divisions.

During one of the trainings done in Fort Bonifacio, we were given each with a replica gun (a Garand rifle). Being a replica, it will not really fire bullets. But still, our platoon commander still blurted, “Whoever has the gun, has the power.” I can still remember the smiles in my batchmates’ faces. Maybe, they are thinking that if this is the gun we will use in battle, we would need more power and strength to use them as bat for striking the enemies down.

Man has always been impressed with power, whether physically, politically, financially, militarily, or spiritually, man has always been crazy about the search for, acquisition of, and demonstration of power. The message of the world is that power is good and weakness is bad. That power is proof that you are a winner while weakness is proof you are a loser. That the one with the power calls the shots and determines that the outcome of things most important to him will ultimately end in his favor.

But the message from God is different. The power of God, demonstrated most fully in the cross of Jesus Christ, must be the one that should impress us. Do you want to see some real power? Then look no further than the cross of Jesus Christ. First and foremost, look back at what He has done for our salvation. The word, the message, the testimony of the cross IS the power of God. You only need to seek Him for all the power you will ever need to smell, taste, touch, hear, or see. It can be found anytime through simple faith.

Almighty Father, You are our power, our strength. We are weak. Bless us with a measure of strength, as may be sufficient. When tempted by evil, deliver us, by granting us the power to overcome it. When daily work is too hard, give us the strength to be able to do it. If our burden oppresses us beyond our bearing, lighten the load, that our strength may be equal to it.

Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.