Power

The second year that I lived in my summer home — a fifth wheel trailer (or RV) — the dual-power refrigerator quit working via electricity. Through a series of events — partly my fault, partly someone else's — it worked only on propane gas. An RV repairman checked it out and tried a few remedies, but it still worked only on propane. So, I assumed that it wasn't fixable. It continued to consume large amounts of propane for two years in order to keep my refrigerated goods cold or frozen. This meant a few anxious moments when the next propane delivery day didn't coincide with my empty tank.

A few weeks ago, I found a brochure for an "RV MD" — a mobile repair service. I called for an appointment. Mike arrived right on time. He checked the error codes on the refrigerator, then walked to the back of the RV and opened the door that covered all the refrigerator components.

"What's this?" He held up a cord with a plug on the end. "It's not plugged in!" Evidently, the repairman who had come two years before had unplugged it while working and forgot to plug it back in. Mike plugged in the cord, and I excitedly ran into the RV to check. It worked! So, for two years, the only reason my refrigerator didn't work on electricity was because that plug was lying on the bottom of the compartment instead of being plugged in to the power source.

Matthew 22:29 – But Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God." (ESV)

Isn't that like our lives? We become powerless and useless Christians when we're not "plugged in" to the ultimate source of power: God's Holy Spirit. We're like that cord lying on the bottom of the compartment, not good for much of anything — in that position.

2 Peter 1:3 – His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (NIV 2011)

The ESV states, "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness." Granted or given, it's right there, ready for us to use. On our own, we are powerless to live victorious lives for Him. But if we choose to remain connected to the ultimate source of power — to pick up our cord, so to speak, and plug ourselves in to the power available to us through the Holy Spirit — we have "everything we need for a godly life." It's a choice.

Luke 11:13 – If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (NIV)

Prayer: Father, help us to make it a daily choice to commit our lives to You, to plug in to Your vast sources of power so that there is no doubt about where we get our spiritual strength, wisdom, and energy. We want to live our lives in a godly way, and we can do this only through You. Amen.