Not Your Power

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Wyatt Webb

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Dec 28, 2009, 1:55:54 AM12/28/09

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From 1977 to 1982, Bill Bixby portrayed David Banner in the television show more famous for having Lou Ferrigno in green body paint every week. (If you're too young to know what I'm talking about, ask your father) Being a sci-fi junkie, I watched the show fairly faithfully. At the beginning of each episode, there was a short review of the origin story: After being unable to save his wife in a car accident, Dr. Banner studies cases of people who seem to gain superhuman strength in times of stress. He tests a theory by bombarding himself with gamma rays and, of course, it doesn't go as planned. Thus begins the series.

My point in making myself sound old (or making you feel old), is that Dr. Banner's solution to this loss in life was to empower himself. He concluded that he need to learn how to overcome tragic events on his own and through his own (literal) power. I thought of this as I listened to our pastor on Sunday remind us that it is not our power that makes anything happen.

"So he said, to me, 'This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the LORD Almighty.' " Zechariah 4:6

God is making the point to Zerubbabel through Zechariah that the mountain in front of him (in this case, finishing the reconstruction of the temple) will be accomplished through God's power, not through man's. Sometimes, we get caught up in the success of God's power working through us or alongside us and mistakenly assume that we were necessary or that we somehow accomplished some of that success ourselves.

God does not need us to accomplish His ends. He created the universe on His own. He brought mankind into existence on His own. He launched the line of Abraham on His own. He launched the rescue of mankind through Jesus on His own. He chooses to use us and we are blessed for it.

This is not to discourage or denigrate you as a person, but to be encouraged that no matter how big the mountain is in front of you, it can be conquered because God is the only one who needs to succeed. He isn't dependent on your abilities or skills.

"What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. [...]" Zechariah 4:7

It's not your power, but God's that will accomplish His plans and flatten the mountains. Just hang on for the ride!