God's Power to Keep

GOD’S POWER TO KEEP

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless
before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24, 25)

As Jude concludes a letter of warning about false doctrine and false practices, he adds an encouraging note in the form of one of the greatest benedictions in the Bible. The key to the purity of his readers does not lie in their ability, but in God’s. He does not offer a self-help strategy but a divine provision. This is found in the person and power of God.

One of the essential elements of the benediction is the simple phrase, who is able. Our omnipotent God is able. Regardless of the demand or difficulty, God is able. The old axiom is still true, “Our extremities are God’s opportunity.” This fact is found throughout scripture.

A question was asked of Daniel by Darius the king, calling to him from the mouth of the lions den, “Has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Daniel replied, “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so they have not hurt me.” God is able to deliver.

In the New Testament there are other declarations of His ability. “He is able to save…to the uttermost” (Hebrews 7:25). “He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews2:18). “He is able to establish you” (Romans 16:25-26). “He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:21). “He is able to make all grace abound toward you” (2 Corinthians 9:8). “He is able to keep what I have committed to Him” (1 Timothy 1:12).

The Apostle Paul seems to sum up all of these statements in one of his benedictions, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

Obviously there is no power shortage with God. Whey they are we Christians so poverty stricken and powerless? Is there no connection between His ability and our need? The missing element is faith. My believing that His is able does not make Him able; He is able. But it connects His ability to my inadequacy and victory results. -- William A. Raws --

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 11; 2 Kings 13-14; John 2

Thou sentest Thine hand from above, and drewest my soul out of that profound darkness - my mother, that faithful one, weeping to Thee for me, more than mothers weep the bodily deaths of their children. For she, by that faith and spirit which had form Thee, discerned the death wherein I lay, and Thou heardest her, O Lord; Thou heardest her, and despiseth not her tears, when streaming down, they watered the ground under her eyes in every place she prayed; yea Thou heardest her...Thine ears were towards her heart. O Thou God omnipotent, who caredst for every one of us, as if Thou carest for him only; and so for all, as if they were but one!Augustine

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