Plugged In

February 28

Getting Plugged in to the Power

In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan.

He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car to start. As he made his rounds, he could either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this improvisation for two years.

Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood.

Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, “Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable.” He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life.

For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.

J. B. Phillips paraphrases Ephesians l:19-20, “How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God.” When we make firm our connection with God, His life and power flow through us. —Ernest B. Beevers


How plugged in are we to the power source? Jesus said, “Without Me, you can do nothing,” John 15:5. HE is our power source, without Him, we can’t accomplish anything of eternal value.

Though we may rise to the heights of our profession, though we may attain great power among the world’s leaders, though we may be acclaimed to be a great moral leader, though we may inspire all men because of our technological wizardry, none of our accomplishments will stand the test of the fire of Heaven’s judgment (see I Corinthians 3:8-21).

If our works are to be tried by fire, shouldn’t we be mindful of the labor we do? Of course we need to support our families and provide the necessities of life, but if we are consumed with the temporal, how will we assure that those around us see us laboring in behalf of the Kingdom of Christ?

The brother of Jesus said, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways,” James 1:8. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus Himself said, “You cannot serve God and mammon.” He made it clear that we cannot serve the Holy One while being consumed with temporal interests. The reality is we will disdain one and love the other.

If we try to incorporate both worldly and godly goals into our repertoire, we will indeed be unstable in our ways for the temporal will always be at variance with the eternal. The Lord desires that we make Him our complete priority and that we trust Him to help us achieve necessary goals to be responsible and productive people.

If we make Him our power source, there will be no power failure in our lives. We will be able to “do all things through Christ who strengthens us,” Philippians 4:13.