Thursday: Two Secrets of Power
WEEK 35
THURSDAY
TWO SECRETS OF POWER
Isaiah 30:20-21
The secret of power in the Acts is twofold: First, these Christians fully surrendered to God and through that surrender were enabled to accept the gift of the Holy Spirit. That enabled the Holy Spirit to come into immediate contact with the human spirit, heightening all its powers and adding a plus to everything. Second, these heightened powers were under divine control and were working out a plan, a life plan. Without following divine guidance, the Holy Spirit’s power in their lives would have been canceled or frustrated. Without this divine guidance, life is like a hose with the water running to waste. Guidance directs the water of the hose where it is needed.
The disciples made some mistakes in guidance, but the mistakes taught them to turn to truer guidance and overrule their mistakes. They made a mistake, I believe, in deciding on a successor to Judas. First, they put forth two men and asked God to choose between them. They gave God no leeway; they tried to tie God’s hands. God didn’t want either of the men; God wanted Paul. Second, they took a wrong method of guidance; they cast lots. That was the first and last time they used that method. The God of law and order can’t be made into a Cosmic Juggler, making chance lots fall in the right way. “I have taken a chance in the sweepstakes; and if you will pray that I win, I will give half the proceeds to your church,” said a man to me in India. I replied, “I will pray that God will give you sense enough not to waste your time, your money, and your character on lotteries.” I called out to a drunk as he staggered unsteadily across the street, “Look out; you’re going against the red light!” He waved his hand and said, “God always takes care of his children,” and walked on!
The disciples learned their lessons; guidance moved from the outward to the inward, from chance events to obedience to the voice of God under moral law.
O Holy Spirit, teach me to hear your voice and to distinguish between it and the voice of my desires. And help me to obey when I know, risking my all. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: God’s guidance is always into greater character and greater effectiveness.