A Reservoir of Power
This devotional was written by Jim Burns
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. —Acts 1:8
I heard a story a few years ago about a farmer in the panhandle of Texas. This farmer and his wife had eked out a meager living in the dusty panhandle for 30 years when an impeccably dressed man in a three-piece suit driving a fancy car came to their door. He told the farmer that he had good reason to believe there was a reservoir of oil underneath his property. If the farmer would allow the gentleman the right to drill, perhaps the farmer would become a wealthy man. The farmer stated emphatically that he didn't want anyone messing up his property and asked the gentleman to leave. The next year, about the same time, the gentleman returned again with his nice clothes and another fancy car. The oilman pleaded with the farmer, and again the farmer said no. This same experience went on for the next eight years. During those eight years, the farmer and his wife struggled to make ends meet. Nine years after the first visit from the oilman, the farmer came down with a disease that put him in the hospital. When the gentleman arrived to plead his case for oil, he spoke to the farmer's wife. Reluctantly, she gave permission to drill.
Within a week, huge oil rigs were beginning the process of drilling for oil. The first day, nothing happened. The second day was filled with only disappointment and dust. But on the third day, right about noon, black bubbly liquid began to squirt up in the air. The oilman had found "black gold" and the farmer and his wife were instant millionaires.
You have a reservoir of power in your life. If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit works in your life. You can tap into His power and live your life with resurrection power. The Holy Spirit will empower you to live life on a greater level, but you've got to tap into His power source just like the farmer needed to drill for oil. The Bible says to "be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18) and to "live by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16). People are searching for the power to change their lives when in fact, the power is already dwelling within them in the form of God’s Holy Spirit. Tap into His reservoir of power!
GOING DEEPER:
1. According to Acts 1:8. What is the source of power in the Christian’s life?
2. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s life? If you don’t know, don’t be afraid to ask someone!
FURTHER READING:
Acts 2:1-4, Acts 8:1-25, Matthew 28:19
Sign up here for Parenting Resources and other HomeWord publications.