St. Bartholomew's Church

St. Paul could not have been more direct when he wrote the fledgling church in Corinth these words: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” (1Cor 4:20)

As we have now been on our Lenten journey two full weeks it is time for most of us to recognize that we are powerless to make the changes in our lives that we felt convicted to make at the beginning of this season. We are a people who like to talk about the faith; who like to study and master words. But words are cheap and talk is empty unless it actually changes our lives!

Paul would earlier refer to the church in Corinth as “mere infants in Christ” (3:1). He was not referring to their chronological age but to their maturity level. I wonder what he would say about my life in Christ? Although chronologically aged, what is my maturity level when it comes to the Christian faith? The answer to this question will be evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit in our lives (see Galatians 5).

When he writes that the Kingdom of God is a matter of power, he means that engaging with God is manifested by increased power to live like God Himself wants us to be living. Authentic faith is evidenced by the transformation of our thinking and living. We cannot possibly accomplish this by ourselves, nor does God expect us to.

This Lent we are invited to acknowledge two things: Firstly, just how helpless we are to change our lives on our own, and secondly, how much we genuinely need the Holy Spirit to accomplish this in and through us.

This week, pray God will give you the Grace of His Holy Spirit to be what He is calling you to be.