ALL. SURPASSING. POWER.

!!!

Oh man. Second Corinthians is one of my favorites. When I read it, I have a thousand little mind explosions every single time. I am not even doing devotions there (I'm in Matthew) but my mom drew reference to it yesterday, so I looked up the passage she read and my life hasn't quite been the same since... hahahahahah!!!

So I started out in Matthew 11-- also a great favorite. In it, we are told that "blessed is he who is not offended because of Me" (Jesus speaking in verse 6: NKJV) I have never read this passage in this translation. It takes on a whole different tone than "Blessed is he who does not fall away because of me." (NIV). To me, this speaks of not letting Christ offend you and shake your faith just because the message he brings is so controversial. It speaks of blessing when we simply believe that Christ brought a greater message than that of salvation through works, and sought, not to deceive us, but to bring us into the glorious truth that is available to us. One that is so mind-blowing in its greatness; simple at its core, and yet immeasurable in its depth and vastness.

Later in the chapter, Jesus says, "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it" (verse 12, NIV.) In NKJV, the same verse reads, "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." Is this a bad thing? Or good? After all, Jesus himself has told us to pray that "your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10). I believe that God is calling us to claim what is ours, the great gift that he has given to us. There is a kingdom that is available to us NOW.... that if we were only to lay hands on it, would enable us to raise the dead and cast out demons and every infirmity. But it will not come to the passive. It requires action on our part. It requires spiritual violence: action that is spurred by conviction that God is alive in me and has enabled me to carry out great works for the glory of his name!! What can stand against that? I am further convinced of this point from reading in Second Corinthians.

Right after some of my favorite verses of all time (Second Corinthians 3:16-18... I will blog about it some other time, most likely :) comes one which has beautiful imagery of who we are called to be. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:7) ...................... WHAT??!!!! Let's review.

All-surpassing power. The treasure within us. That we are supposed to SHOW. I am personally going to take this as a challenge, to step out TODAY and into the life that Christ has called me to live. A life that doesn't abuse God's righteousness by claiming it as her own, or pervert the kingdom of God by claiming it is available only to those with a special calling. No. This is for each of us. There is power in each of us the moment we ask Christ to live inside of us. Whether we choose to believe or acknowledge or live in that is our choice. If we expect to see salvation of the nations through persuasive words or kind deeds, how much more can we expect through amazing displays of His power, and personal experiences with a living God?

He has not called me to heal people. He has called me to step out in faith and believe that He will do it. I cannot save anyone. But I can share the gospel and the power behind it and believe that He will.

Oh, King of Glory, have your glory....

2 Corinthians 4:7

For we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

Matthew 11:3-6

"Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"

Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."