Day 19 + 20: What is power?

"And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places" Ephesians 1:19-20

Power: this is a subject that is near to my heart. In fact, I am intending to make it the topic of my research in my PhD program. My research question is this: What is it about humans, in any interaction, at all age levels, in small groups and large, across races and ethnicities, that creates dominance and submissiveness, in-group and out-group, haves and have-nots. It was human "power" that sent Jesus to the cross (even though I know He laid down his own life).

But God's power is not this way. God's power is the kind that "raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places." God's power is the kind that restores, redeems, and raises up those who have been abused by the "power" of the world. His is a power that comes in the form of a child, not taking on human power in order to overpower humans. His ways are not our ways.

But how do I live this way? Its challenging as a white, heterosexual, middle class, Christian male. I have the added challenge of being aware of my privilege and innate power in society. I think the goal is to lay down this false power and take up the power of God. This is the power that is immeasurably great. It is the power that restores, redeems, and raises up. Its about living a different way and trusting in His power and not in my own.

by the will of God,

Jonathan