One of my signature verses is 2 Samuel 22:33 -- "God is my strength and power, and He maketh my way perfect." Especially given what we're dealing with today, it is more important than ever to understand "The Source" of our strength and power.
As most of you know, I am constantly encouraging us to TRAIN (meaning physically dragging our tired behinds to the gym, dojo, etc. Being physically fit is vital to our physical and emotional survival in law enforcement and, frankly, life in general. That said, there is also an even more important spiritual side to this concept (one that King David understood well). Let's break it down:
How do you react to situations when you suddenly discover you do not have any power? By "power," I am referring to the power or strength necessary to accomplish something that must be done. Imagine this scenario: you are suddenly in a deadly force encounter and must respond in kind. You pull the trigger and there is no "bang;" "Rack, tap..." but still no "bang!" Strip your mag, rack your slide a couple times, insert a new mag (still under fire, mind you) and still no "bang?" Now what? Back up weapon? Maybe, maybe not. Or perhaps you're beginning your watch and you get an "Officer Needs Assistance!" call call only to find that that you got "nothin" when you turn the key in the ignition. In short, even if you've been trained to think outside the box and never surrender, you're all but powerless (at least for the moment). What then? What NOW? What do you do when you lack the power to perform the task?
2 Samuel 22 is a psalm of praise in which David gives thanks, honor, and credit to God for delivering him from his many enemies. It is NOT a false "name it and claim it" passage but rather an acknowledgement that God directed David's path and gave him success in impossible situations and against superior foes because David was obedient and sought God's will first and foremost.
The Bible offers a unique perspective on this concept of God's power. God promises His people (this is important...I'll come back to it in a minute) that along with our own "power" -- talents, skills, physical strength, expertise, armor, weapons and equipment -- He will give us the power we need to answer life's "calls for service" He "dispatches" us to. Accordingly, let's look at just four main points:
(1) As believers (true Christians), God is calling us to be dependent on Him for the resources we need. Many of us have been trained to be self-sufficient, self-reliant and independent in our duties. However, the Christian's job description demands dependence on Him: "I am the vine; you are the branches....apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
(2) God will empower us to accomplish what needs to be done. In times of great stress and duress, we can find comfort in the reality that God will provide the power to accomplish whatever He has called us to do (His will vs. our own): "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).
(3) We must rely NOT on our own power alone (it will eventually fail), but rather on the power of God. As followers of "The Way" (what 1st Century Christians were called based on John 14:6 where Jesus declares, "I am the way...") we must be humble enough to recognize our own powerlessness and that we must turn to God for the power to carry out His will. "...yet by God's power we will live in Him to serve you" (2 Corinthians 13:4).
(4) God will provide us what we need when we need it. God may not always provide resources in advance, but He does provide them when needed. "...do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit" (Mark 13:11).
Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly places His warriors in positions where they MUST rely totally on His power to accomplish the tasks He has set before them. In fact, He often goes out of His way to ensure that we will recognize that it is by His power alone that the victory takes place. Today's short study is a reminder that our Lord is still calling on us to rely on His power to live and serve victoriously.
Examples? Here are just a few (of many):
(2) One of our signature passages is Psalm 144:1 in which God tells us,
Blessed be the Lord my Rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle
Notice that is is not, "Blessed be MC who trains himself for war and his fingers for battle." NO! It is God who will train His faithful and prepare us for the spiritual battles of this life. When we depend on ourselves, we can be assured that failure will soon follow!
(3) Our salvation! We can't earn it or be "good" enough for it. We MUST instead rely on Him alone: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. -- Ephesians 2:8-9.
What is your response to God's biblical promises that He will provide His followers with the power and resources to perform the mission He has called us to do? Are you doing things "my way" or His? Are you taking for yourself the glory that rightfully belongs to God? If your answer is former, let me encourage you to repent and turn to Him today.
So do you know Him? Are you one of His people? A follower of "The Way?" Are you following His path for your life (versus your own). Are you in fact saved or do you embrace the false hope that you "deserve" Heaven because of your so-called "good" deeds? That your own strength will see you through? If so, I can't encourage you enough to scroll down to the Know God? section below and surrender to Him in faith today!
MC
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KNOW GOD?
(1) Do you continue to hold to an utterly false hope that you can "earn" or otherwise "badge" your way into heaven and escape hell because you consider yourself to be a "good" cop or a "good person" (the "I'm good" mess)? That you can be "good" enough without knowing Christ as Lord and Savior? That mere "belief" is enough to "save" you (as our Lord, through James, tells us, "...even the demons believe, and tremble" -- James 2:19)? That you somehow "deserve" heaven because of your so-called "good" service in law enforcement? Take the Good Person Test and see how you do!
(2) Jesus' first recorded words in His earthly adult ministry included, "Repent and believe in the Good News..." -- Mark 1:15. To repent is a "180" -- a complete, radical change of mind and heart as it relates to our sin (as God defines it). To "believe" (pisteuo in the original Greek -- a different word than James used in James 2:19) as Jesus intends it here is to wholeheartedly trust and surrender your life to Him in faith in the same way we have "faith" that our body armor will do its job against the rounds it is intended to stop; that a well-maintained weapon will function properly when used in against criminals intent on destroying us or others; or that our parachute will open when it is supposed to on a combat jump (we stake our very lives on it)! For more, see What does it mean to believe in Jesus?
(3) This same concept of "believe" (the saving kind) is further revealed in John 3:1-21 where Jesus says, "... you must be born again." Again, note our Lord's emphasis on the word "must" (not "may" or "should" or even "someday"): this is ultimately the life-saving AND life-changing personal relationship (and NOT "religion") with Jesus Christ that I stress here every week (see What does it mean to be a born again Christian?). HINT: there is no other kind.
(5) Need more? Then check out this powerful, short video message from Maj. Travis Yates: Cops and Salvation
(6) Have you now said "yes" to Jesus as Lord and Savior but are wondering what to do next? The "now what" is also vital in dealing with the issues that contribute to police suicide, PTSi and more. Click on, Now what?
MC