For This I Have God

I don't know if this happens to everyone, but sometimes I just feel so small. I feel the world and everything is so big. Little me... I can't handle anything. The ODB reflection tells of a sermon in which the pastor suggested to make our mantra, "For this, I have God."

In the middle of your daughter's temper tantrum, "For this, I have God."
At the start of your written comprehensive exams, "For this, I have God."
Before a cross country move, "For this, I have God."
During your 10th job interview, "For this, I have God."

God's power is what we need in these situations, and it is recounted in many lovely stories in the Bible. The story of the Ark of the Lord shows how God protected the Israelites, and Luke 9 tells of the power Jesus gave to the disciples to preach.


Power for Protection

19 But God struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy [i] of them to death because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the LORD had dealt them, 20 and the men of Beth Shemesh asked, "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?"
21 Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to your place." -1 Samuel 6:19-21

This story is quite amazing. They moved the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Israel, and bad things happened wherever they took it. What I get from this story is that even though the Israelites were powerless to keep the ark in their possession, powerless to fight against the Philistines, God's power fought for them. However, I can't ignore this ending verse either... God struck down the men who looked into the ark, and their response was mourning but also awe and wonder... "Who can stand in the presence of the holy God?"

I fear that sometimes we make people to big and God too small. We fail to recognize with every day how much power God to do every single thing, to create every single things, to undo every single thing! His power is amazing... and His love is amazing in that in spite of His power and authority, He chooses to love each of us and use His power to protect and love His people.


Power for Preaching

1When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3He told them: "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. 4Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." 6So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.
7Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed, because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. 9But Herod said, "I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?" And he tried to see him. -Luke 9:1-9

I love these verses too, especially the beginning verse. How can we fear what God sends us to do, when we know that He will protect and empower and enable us to do that for which He commands us. We don't need any material things, perhaps no training even... we just go where He sends us and allow His power to work through us.

Where are you called to ministry? A supportive women's group? A coffee time before worship at church? Going around to your neighborhood homes and praying for families? A prayer group? A Bible Study? Remember, "For this, you have God." Pray that He may enable you with the power of His Holy Spirit in order to further His ministry here on earth.