How Strong is Your God

Scripture:  I Peter 1:14-16 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your
former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your
conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

As a child, I was introduced to the cleaners, bleach and ammonia. I grew up with three
ladies in the house: my Mom, Grandma and Great Aunt. They proudly cleaned houses
for money. So they affirmed one another and maintained an old school behavior; they
did not “fool’ with mops but would get on their hands and knees to scrub the floors the
way it was “supposed” to be done. And they preferred the likes of bleach and
ammonia. They would carefully dilute these cleaners -- as without the proper dilution,
their strong potent fragrances could be annoying to some or may, even take someone’s
breath away. Today, these cleaners are still considered some of the strongest cleaners
on the market. At work (dialysis clinic), there are often blood spills, and we confidently
use bleach water to wipe up blood spills asap. I thought about the cleaning power and
the potent aromas and how they compare to the strength of God in our lives.

I ask you, at what strength do you allow God to reign in your life? Are others bothered
by His odor of holiness? Do you cause His righteousness to permeate your life so
much so that you stand out in this crooked world? Or is your relationship with Him
even noticed? Do you obey His Word by overcoming evil with good; living peaceably
with everyone? Are you honest and wearing the freedom of integrity? Are you
abstaining from gossip and evil talk about others? Does He set the tone for your life,
hey for your day? How do you gear up for a day? Is He your concentration?

If you have not noticed, God does not push Himself on us or make us as robots. We
are allowed to use our God-given free will. Though His will definitely will be done; for He is
sovereign. I am not at all sure of how it all works, but for the most part, we get the
opportunity to make good and bad decisions. His Word, which is our source of power,
is made available to us -- and we can read it at any speed and as many times as we
choose. Our reading His Word serves as a direct encounter with God of the Universe.
(Thanks Pastor for reminding us of that.) Nothing to be taken lightly, huh? Let’s become so strong and dominant that we drown the wretched ways of this world with our obedience and
adherence to our God…that we may bring Him pleasure.  Let’s destroy the atmosphere
of bitterness in our homes and/or jobs and the volume of crime in our streets with the
mightiness of God’s love and authority.

Prayer:  Great is the Lord and greatly He shall be praised!! Lord, thank You for Your holiness
and righteousness in our lives. Thank You that we know where our power is. Thank
You that Your Word is truth and strength for us to rely and depend. Oh God, give us
great faith, energy, and confidence to wear your mighty fragrance everywhere we go.
We thank You, Oh Lord!! In Jesus’ Name-Amen!
(Lisa Williams)