Do You Want God's Power?

Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love (2 John 3, King James Version)

Grace, mercy and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ -- the Son of the Father -- will continue to be with us who live in truth and love (2 John 3, New Living Translation).

Christianity is big business. Let's face it. One of the most powerful lobbies in the United States is the Christian Right. TV time is expensive. And the fact that so many ministries are on cable and regular television networks alone tells you that quite a few dollars flow through American churches. One of the phrases one hears a lot is, "I want more power!" Christians want their "territory enlarged."

God promises power to His children. We just need to be sure that we're asking for power for the right reasons. Our text promises power (grace) to God's children.

By definition, grace is God giving you what you don't deserve. Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve. And peace is the ability to keep it together regardless of what confusion is going on all around you.

The aged apostle writes that God's children will have all the power they need to live holy lives. He promises that God will continue to cover them by His blood (not giving them what they deserve because He already took the penalty for our sins). And he promises that God will keep their hearts and minds in peace IF they continue in two things.

What are those two things? He says Christians have to continue in TRUTH and LOVE. In John 8:44 Jesus says that the Devil is liar. The Devil is the father of lies. By way of contrast, Jesus declares that He Himself is the Truth (John 14:6) and that the truth makes us free (John 8:32).

It is important to know that the Enemy's M.O. is to deceive us (Rev. 12:7-9). He would have us believe that we can still lay claim to God's power (grace), mercy and peace while living a lie.

To break it down a bit, despite the fact that God does not always let me feel the immediate consequences of my actions, it is presumptuous to assume that I can ignore His Word and still expect Him to give me grace, mercy and peace.

What is His word? His word says, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44), "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21), "Honor thy father and thy mother" (Exodus 20:12), "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13), "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14), "Thou shalt not steal" (Exodus 20:15), "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor" (Exodus 20:16), "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's" (Exodus 20:17).

Something has happened as Christianity has gotten to be big business. We have begun to lose a sense of mission and focus. We see large crowds and equate those who are able to command arena sized audiences with being powerful. I think not. Just because you can fill a stadium with people who want to hear you speak does not necessarily mean that you are powerful from the Bible's perspective. God's power is about what takes place inside the child of God.

Grace is God's power to live right! When I'm understanding this right, I'm not asking for power to be perceived by other human beings as powerful. No, when God's grace is present in my life my desire is to be in right relationship to Him! I'm asking for power to live in a way that pleases God, not the masses!

John also promises mercy. Mercy is God not giving me what I deserve in terms of the consequences for my sinful actions. If I have no intention of turning away with sorrow (repentance) from the things that He has already told me offend Him, I ought not expect His mercy. We want mercy when we're sorry for what we've done. Most would agree that something is wrong with a justice system that grants mercy to murderers and thieves who show no remorse for their offenses.

And finally, peace will be far from the person who ignores the clear instructions of the Lord. Why is that? Well, because God has laws and principles that He has established. He's certainly not out to get us. But when we ignore those laws and principles, we're putting ourselves in a place to reap what we sew. And deep down inside, we know it. It's just a matter of time before we reap the bitter harvest for reckless seed sewn. One cannot have peace living like that.

So wise old John tells us in 2 John 3 that grace, mercy and peace will continue to be with us who live in TRUTH and LOVE. Love for whom? Love for God (obviously) and in the context of John's three epistles, love for man (because the evidence of our love for God is seen in our love for our fellow brother and sister).

I don't know about you, but I need God's grace, mercy and peace! I need 'em! So, I'm praying that He will help me to continue to live in truth and love.