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I have had the privilege of traveling to many different countries around the world. Often, I have been ministering by either speaking or leading worship. Once, while on a tour of Eastern Europe, I was preparing to go out on stage in Croatia when I realized something was wrong with my guitar effects pedal board. Making a few quick changes, I inadvertently disconnected a very important component – the transformer. When I reconnected my equipment I got a free fireworks show! (That’s a cute way of saying my gear blew up.) European electrical power operates on 220 volts while American electrical power operates on 110 volts. The two simply cannot relate without a transformer between them.
God’s power has everything we need for life and for godliness. He is more than enough… literally. So much so that without a transformer between the two of us we simply cannot handle His glory and His goodness. There are stories in the Old Testament where certain people would get too close to God without following His clear instruction and they died. That seems harsh for some of us when you read it at face value. However, if you consider it in the context of working at a nuclear power plant or, here in Charlotte, at one of the NASCAR race facilities you get a better picture. These engines, machines and reactors have immense power! If you are not very careful and attentive to the clear boundaries and rules of how to relate to these sources of power you will get hurt or even die. It is not the power sources’ fault for being powerful, it is often our lack of attention or respect that puts us in a very unfortunate and dangerous position. I disconnected the transformer to my equipment in my haste and I paid the price. The power was simply being what it was – powerful.
Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live… the life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” He recognized he needed a ‘transformer’ to empower him to live the full life God desires for us to live. Ironically, this verse is Galatians 2:20! What’s even more fun is that Galatians 1:10 says ‘Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.’ If we try to live our lives on 110 power (people pleasing as referenced in Gal. 1:10) when God has designed us to operate on 220 power (faith in God through Jesus Gal. 2:20) we will not be able to succeed and we will completely BURN OUT!!
You don’t have to be overwhelmed today. You don’t have to try and make everyone happy. You can die to all of that and live by faith in the one who TRANSFORMS you from the inside out to be able to receive and operate in his love. The kind of transformer that is needed to convert 220 power to 110 is called a ‘step-down transformer.’ How amazing is it then that the Psalmist says of the Lord in Psalm 18 “…You have stooped to make me great.” In all of your efforts to ‘reach up’ today and connect with God, know that He has already ‘stooped down’ to give you all that you need to operate in His power which is infinitely more fulfilling and powerful than your own. Don’t be trapped by trying to please people. Live to please the one who delights in you fully and empowers you to be and do more than you ever dreamed or imagined.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20 NIV
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. -Galatians 1:10 NIV
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. -Proverbs 29:25 NIV
You protect me with your saving shield. You support me with your right hand. You have stooped to make me great. – Psalm 18:35 NCV
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