Author: Paul Nordman

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Our Surprising Superpower

“What is your superpower?” This is the “surprise” interview question everyone has come to expect. For hiring managers, it is an engaging means of testing candidates’ creativity, agility, adaptability, and composure. Job applicants, on the other hand, can seize upon the question as a fun way to feature their primo professional skills and character traits. If one possessed unshakable focus on mission and dogged pursuit of its aligned objectives, for example, he might light-heartedly claim Superman’s laser-like “heat vision” as his natural superpower and proceed to explain why. But what about “superpower” in a spiritual sense? Well, that’s different. Let’s see how.

Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians was, in part, a defense of his personal integrity and authority, for the church had been infiltrated by false teachers speaking against him and leading the believers away from truth. In response, Paul confessed his counterintuitive superpower before all: “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses.”1 What might inspire this bold apostle to glory in his deficiencies? Jesus had counseled him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”2 By grace, God freely flows His power through us for His purposes—anything “more” is actually less. Concluded Paul in humble submission, “When I am weak, then I am strong.”3

Over the past two months, we have been exploring “God’s grace in its various forms”4—His favor that overflows in abundance to us and through us to others. Strength is one such expression of grace, equipping us for a variety of purposes. From God’s “glorious riches,” for instance, He strengthens us “with power through his Spirit . . . so that Christ may dwell in [our] hearts through faith.”5 In inexhaustible measure, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”6 He gives us endurance in mission, “for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus.”7 And even when we suffer, “the God of all grace” himself restores us and makes us strong, firm and steadfast.”8 Then let us, like Paul, “strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in us.”9 For our superpower is no longer a natural “what” but a divine “Who.” He is Christ in us.

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” —Zechariah 4:6

Father, out of Your glorious riches, strengthen us with power through Your Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith.10 Work powerfully through us, Your church, and be glorified. In Christ we pray, Amen.

1 2 Corinthians 12:9b
2 2 Corinthians 12:9a
3 2 Corinthians 12:10
4 1 Peter 4:10
5 Ephesians 3:16-17
6 2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV
7 2 Timothy 2:10 ESV
8 1 Peter 5:10
9 Colossians 1:29
10 Ephesians 3:16-17

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This Is the Way; Walk in It

Ours was a long-distance courtship. As Peggy was completing her studies in East Lansing, Michigan, I was advancing my career in central Ohio, so our time together was constrained to weekends spread four to six weeks apart. How we bemoaned those Sunday afternoon goodbyes! Yet this was our reality while Peggy finished school, so we consoled ourselves in that it was good to part for a season in order to enjoy each other’s presence for a lifetime.

Comforting His closest of friends on the eve of His departure, Jesus raised their gaze above the pain of the moment to the blessings certain to follow, “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper [Holy Spirit] will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”1 As long as Jesus was on the earth, He could only minister in one place at a time, but now His Spirit would be everywhere all the time, and while the Son of God came to be with us for a season, the Spirit of God would abide in us forever. The outpouring and indwelling of Spirit is a gift of grace, lavished upon all who ask for Him in faith.2 But to what end?

As “the Spirit of truth,”3 He guides us into what is true, speaking not on His own, but only what He hears from Jesus, the Son.4 He speaks candidly about our sin, not to condemn us in our sin, but to turn us away from it.5 The Spirit “teaches us all things”6; He makes known to us what He receives from Jesus, and in so doing, the Spirit glorifies the Son.7 And as the “Spirit of grace,”8 He lives with us and in us.9 He is here to help us and to be with us forever, God’s presence for a lifetime.10

Then how does one receive this gift of grace? Peter tells us: “Each one of you must turn from sin, return to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; then you also shall receive this gift, the Holy Spirit.”11 He will be there for you. Always.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” — Isaiah 30:21

Father, thank You for this precious gift—Your Holy Spirit. Grace us to hear Him, trust Him, and follow His lead, both now and forever. In Christ we pray. Amen.

1 John 16:7 ESV
2 Luke 11:13
3 John 14:17
4 John 16:13-15
5 John 16:8
6 John 14:26
7 John 16:14
8 Hebrews 10:29
9 John 14:17
10 John 14:16
11 Acts 2:38 TLB

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What Grace Is Not

It is amazing, the advances in medicine in just the past 100 years of human history. Before the discovery of antibiotics, for instance, bacterial meningitis claimed the lives of most of its childhood victims, and more recent inroads into cancer treatment are amazing. Once limited to the offer of palliative care—relief to the symptoms of serious disease—in many cases we now live in the abounding hope of an astounding cure. Which would you prefer—merely to be made comfortable in your disease, or to overcome it entirely? (It’s a rhetorical question.)

I think sometimes we look at grace as though it were some sort of palliative care—that because God loves us and freely forgives, we can be contented to linger in sin and do so more comfortably. This notion is not new, for it plagued the early church, as well. Writing to the believers in ancient Rome, Paul exhorted them on the power of grace—“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace”—then continued with a rhetorical question of his own: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!”1 Sin is still sin, and it is not OK. On the topic of grace, the bold apostle instructed another early church, “For the flesh [sinful nature] desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. . .  The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”2 Grace is not license to do what is wrong, nor does it wink at wrong as though it were right.

Grace is the power by which we overcome sin. Again to the Galatians, Paul writes, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh.”3 “How?” we ask. “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”4 Follow the Spirit—give ourselves over to Him—for He will always lead us in the ways of God, and “against such things there is no law.”5 So, how does God show His love—by leaving us to dwell in our sin more comfortably, or dwelling in us as our power to overcome sin? (Another rhetorical question.)

“Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”6 —Jesus, to the woman accused of adultery

Father, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Send Your Spirit to lead us in Your ways, and grace us to follow Him. In Christ we pray. Amen.

1 Romans 6:14-15
2 Galatians 5:17-21
3 Galatians 5:13
4 Galatians 5:16
5 Galatians 5:22-23
5 John 8:11 ESV