Power for godliness
Imagine a typical computer helpdesk conversation. Someone asks: ‘my laptop doesn’t work’. Answer: ‘Perhaps the battery is empty; have you plugged in your power supply?’ Without power connection, the device just doesn’t work. It might last a few hours perhaps, seem to be doing fine, but it will run out. Our Christian life is a bit like that: we need to be connected to the power supply, God himself, if anything is going to happen! Without this connection, Jesus has a frightening response (see Matthew 7:21-23).
With this connection, however, this true living relationship with God as a child to a heavenly Father, real godliness and holiness and Christ-likeness is possible! Even better, in and because of that relationship, such a godly life isn’t just possible, but inevitable! “Ask [your heavenly Father] and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” After all, even our earthly parents know how to give us good gifts. “How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7, 11)
These good gifts include precious faith in Christ Jesus; divine power so strong it raised Jesus from the dead; real knowledge of God through his revelation in creation, the Bible and Jesus; and amazing promises for this life and eternity (see 2 Peter 1).
Shall we then ask God for these good gifts, and live our lives relying on Him instead of our own strength? Shall we strive to be holy, as God is holy? Let’s be encouraged that this is possible, indeed, inevitable for all who humbly ask their heavenly Father: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets… that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven!” (Matthew 7:12, 5:16)
Klaas-Jan Gunnink