BH Bulletin - Monday 1 February 2021

​Thought for the Day by Dave Howarth ​(Lead Pastor Holy Cross Church)

18 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, 19 his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 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. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (Ephesians 1.18-23)

​It may be true that, “knowledge is power,” but these verses show that we need the knowledge of power. If you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, God’s incomparably great power is at work for you. Right now.
We might wonder, “why don’t I feel it or see it more?” But God hasn’t said he will powerfully enable his people to have a neverending series of successes, or overcome sickness, or perform miracles. What God promises to powerfully do is what Paul’s just spoken about: God will enable us to keep going with Christ, despite all that’s against us (see v21), all the way until we reach our hope to come (see v14). That requires incomparable power – and we have it!
Yet most Christians don’t live day-to-day conscious that such immense power is working on our behalf. Imagine if we did. Imagine the joy, the assurance, the security, the hope, the praise that we would regularly offer to God. Knowledge of God’s power is powerful!
So let’s imitate Paul, and prioritise praying this for one another. God is sovereign – God has brought this pandemic. In the Bible, we see God bringing plagues on people in order that they might repent – turn to him – and so be saved. It’s natural that we pray for an end to the pandemic. But let’s not prioritise praying for what God hasn’t said is his priority (e.g. ending the pandemic), whilst failing to pray for what God does say is his priority. God wants those who don’t yet believe to do so. And he wants those who do believe to know “his incomparably great power,” by which he will get his people to a perfect place without pandemics (praise God!).