Designed for Greatness: A 10-Day Bible Plan for MenSample

Intentional and Powerful

One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. LUKE 5:17 NIV

What words do you use to describe Jesus? Maybe words like compassionate, loving, unselfish, kind, forgiving, and merciful come to mind. What about powerful? Luke tells us “the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.” Wherever Jesus went while He was on this earth, He took the power of God with Him. And He used that power to miraculously change people’s lives. And yet He was selective in how He used that power. He didn’t use it to work mighty miracles every second of every day. He used it in intentional ways to show His deep love for people and to help them understand His identity as the Son of God.

In Luke 5:17–26 we read how Jesus healed a paralyzed man. Jesus powerfully worked in this man’s life in a public setting—where religious leaders who opposed Jesus stood watching. Jesus could have chosen any place to heal this man, but He wanted to show His audience that the Son of God was in their presence. Even so, some people who witnessed this amazing miracle still refused to put their faith in Him.

Do you ever doubt God’s ability and desire to work in your life? What changes in your current circumstances are you waiting for? What needs do you have that haven’t been met yet? Are you trusting God to work out those changes and meet those needs?

God is still powerfully working on the earth today, even if we don’t understand His actions or His timing. He is intentional with His love and care for us. Will you trust Him with each step you take and have faith that He will be with you and sustain you in all that you’re going through right now?

PRAYER:

Father, thank You for Jesus, who came to this earth to show Your love for the people You created. Thank You for Your power. Help me to trust that You will work in my life in Your ways and in Your timing. In Jesus’ name, amen.