FROM POWER TO POWER

Heroic rescues excite our senses as we cheer for noble rescuers saving those in peril. The graver the danger, the more our hearts race as we imagine what it must be like to be the victim. Power causes the problem, and greater power provides the solution. Headlines read: “The rescuers overpowered great obstacles and made the rescue.”


Christ Jesus rescued us from the power of Satan and turned us toward God, cleansing us of our sins, through faith, by God’s grace. We received this unmerited favor that allows us to be cleansed of our past and given an eternal future in heaven, safe for all time. The Apostle Paul’s retelling of his conversation with Christ in Acts 26 informs this heroic rescue available to all who turn to God for help.


"I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." (Acts 26:17-18, NIV)


Many of those rescued, myself included, become very comfortable in the safety in which we now live. We can slip into selfish, self-centered behavior and become complacent in our sanctification. Early in my life with Christ, I was mentored by a pastor who continually told me to “go to the cross” when I brought him my struggles. Many years later, I now understand what he was leading me to do. Instead of running to the world for rescuing, he was pointing me to the finished work of Christ Jesus.


"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18, NIV)


All of us who follow Christ Jesus are sanctified, are being sanctified, and shall continue to be sanctified until our final rescue. We were rescued from Satan’s grip, given the power of the Holy Spirit to stay free, and led to reach out to all nations and peoples, wherever and however we can.


Christ has removed our blindfold, rescued us from a fatal situation, and says: “I am sending you to carry my message of salvation and sanctification.” We have been delivered from the evil power of Satan to the pure, loving, safe power of Christ. Let’s not let that rescue mission Christ conducted end with us.


"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Ephesians 1:18-21, NIV)


There are still people trapped and in grave danger. Using Ephesians 1:18-21 as a rallying cry, let’s seize the power we have been given and join the rescue mission for those lost and in jeopardy of staying that way for eternity.


Your aspiring servant, Daniel M.
March 07, 2024
POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ.