Micah 3.8
“But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.” (Micah 3.8)
Just like being a prophet in the time of Elijah, being a high-impact follower of Jesus in our generation requires wisdom, inner strength, and courage. The authentic Christian life is not for the timid or faint of heart.
Having said that, the Lord empowers us for the life to which He calls us. As the Lord did for Ezekiel and Micah and the other prophets, so the Lord makes His power available to us. God’s power in us and through us is a dominant theme throughout the NT.
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4.7)
In Ephesians, the apostle Paul prays that we would understand “the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe, according to the working of his great might.”
Also in Ephesians, Paul prays “that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.”
In the book of Colossians, Paul prays that we would be “strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.”
Paul wrote to Timothy that “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
I am concerned that many Christians today seem to be timid and passive. They lack toughness and courage. I am not suggesting that we be abrasive, belligerent, and combative. Scripture repeatedly commands us to be wise, loving, and respectful.
However, we must speak and act with courage. We must have the difficult conversations. We must engage with the issues of our time. We must engage with people and speak grace and truth into their lives.
The Lord is calling.
