True Power

Romans 1:16

I remember overhearing a young manager speak to his employees. Arrogantly He said, "You have not yet seen my true power." At this, he proudly puffed out his chest as if to somehow increase the grandeur of his presence. The first thing I thought was, "What a immature understanding of his role as a leader." Then I thought, "What an immature understanding of the word power." Now, I recognize that everyone seems to have their own understanding of power, which in my opinion, is derived from what we perceive to be the prevailing influence in our life. In this case, the young manager was greatly influenced by pride, and power was apparently nothing more than a vise for self elevation, or rather, self inflation. All this made me wonder what the Romans thought when they read, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Romans 1:16)." After all, the Romans were also influenced by many worldly facets of power. From the coliseum to the schools of learning, from Caesar to the treasury; Rome had an intimate and, at times, very brutal relationship with power. In a world where power was everything, the gospel of Jesus Christ must have truly been, as Paul said, a stumbling block (1st Corinthians 1:23). Arrested without a fight and crucified as a criminal, the poor son of a carpenter – born in a manger and raised in poverty, lived and died as the reproach of many. Everything about His gospel, from the incarnation to the crucifixion, was more of a demonstration of His love and surrender than of His power. Even Paul failed to demonstrate the kind of power that would gain the respect of Rome. In his first letter to the Corinthian believers he confesses, "We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world (1st Corinthians 4:10-13)." Paul was beaten, mistreated, and no doubt tired. However, in spite of his oppression Paul could say boldly, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Romans 1:16)." This gospel was more than just good news, which from any other source could do nothing; it was the POWER of God given freely to all that believe; it was the power of God to transform lives. This power compelled Paul to preach fearlessly in spite of hardships and injuries. For Paul understood God's power personally. From his first encounter on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), through every city he proclaimed the good news; Paul could see and testify to the life changing power of the gospel message. The gospel's power did not come from military force, nor did it prevail through financial gain. The gospel's power, which crashes through barriers never before breached, came from God's grace toward all men, and through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins. It was a power that radiated forth one changed life after another. So, next time you hear someone talking about power, you let them know that they don't know jack about it. Then show them, through God's word, what true power is; that being the power of the gospel, a power that changes lives forever.   [mp]

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Michael D'Urbano
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