Today's Devotional

October 27,  2005

 

Subject:  Power Moves

John 19:11-12 - " Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power [at all] against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin."

It's absolutely shocking sometimes to hear some of the things people will say to you in conversation.  I'm referring to a conversation I had with a gentleman concerning a property that I was trying to purchase.  In almost back to back sentences, he gave me a price quote on a property that was about $150,000 different.  The property is a church property that I had been trying to acquire for some time.  In the end I knew that God would work it out and I realized through that conversation how God takes the emotion out of us when people say some crazy things, which are often done so that they can show their power.   They are what I call, "power moves."

The case of Jesus before Pontius Pilate and Moses before Pharaoh and the Hebrew boys before Nebudchadnezzar are all examples of how we, as believers, can remain calm when people make "power moves" against us.

Witness the Jesus response.  Pontius Pilate had just stated how he had the power to crucify Christ or to release Him.  Jesus didn't get excited about that ridiculous "power move" statement; He just set the record straight.  He told Pilate, "you don't have any power unless God gave it to you."  That's also the truth concerning those making "power moves" against you today.  When we realize that we don't have to respond in-kind and that we can remain cool, calm and unexcited by anything that others say or do to us, we will see that that is the ultimate "power move."  

Today, listen as you talk to others at work or at home.  "Power Moves" happen and we need to recognize them so that we can explain to others, just as Christ did, "you've got no power unless it is given you from above."

Carlen