And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God when it has come with power.”
When many of us think about living out our faith, we immediately consider the major sacrifices we would have to make. We think about the habits we would have to change, the places we could be called, and the scary things we may have to do. Sometimes, the cost feels overwhelming, especially when we remember that there are parts of the world where we could be persecuted or killed for our faith.
What is beautiful about our faith is that our God has not left us alone to do any of the work He has given us. He has equipped us with the Holy Spirit so that we do not have to look at living out our faith as scary or overwhelming; instead, we can look at it with joy, hope, and boldness. In 2 Timothy 1:7-8 Paul said, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.” We do not live out our faith empty handed. We do not live in defeat or fear of death. When we live surrendered to Christ, we have His power and His life inside of us. Because His work through us, we can be assured that all that we sacrifice, change, and do in surrender to Him will be surely worth it.
- What are parts of living out your faith that feel overwhelming to you? How does knowing the power that comes from Christ change that?
- When have you tried to live your faith based on your own power instead of God’s?
- Pray and ask God to equip you with His power and strength to live for Him as you surrender to Him.
