by Dennis Gladden, By Green Pastures, reposted from the IM Writers Forum, ©2024
(Aug. 26, 2024) — “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
If I were omnipotent and wanted to convince you of my strength, I would not commission someone to tour the countryside to spread the news. Show, don’t tell, is the mantra of the powerful.
Elijah understood this when his countrymen could not decide which deity to embrace—the God of their fathers or the gods of their neighbors. They needed to see superiority, and Elijah arranged a duel. He announced the rules and concluded, “The God who answers by fire, He is God.” (1 Kings 18:24).
God obliged. Fire devoured Elijah’s sacrifice and even the water he poured on it and the stones he used to build the altar. Meanwhile, not a smidgen of smoke curled from the pagan altar.
The disciples of Jesus wanted such a display when they encountered hostility in a Samaritan village. “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” (Luke 9:54).
More recently, President Reagan adhered to Peace Through Strength by building up the U.S. military. Bombers and destroyers and artillery display our power and deter our enemies.
In a world where seeing is believing, demonstrations of power customarily convince skeptics.
Yet the Apostle Paul calls our attention to God’s almighty power displayed in a way you wouldn’t expect. A way that he even calls foolish: the preaching of the Gospel.
God commissioned Paul to tour the known world and talk about Jesus.
What does preaching—known more perhaps for its power to put listeners to sleep—accomplish?
Evidence is in the prayers of the Bible. When you compare prayers at four milestones in the Old Testament with prayers in the New Testament, especially Paul’s, you come to understand his bold claim: The gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation.
The contrast is startling.
Let’s listen to the milestone prayers.
Read the rest here.