Are You a Force to Be Reckoned With?
The scriptures are clear. Jesus Christ was a force to be reckoned with from the time he was born to his ascension into heaven. But how?
What Christ Could Have Done
Christ could have called his angels down to lift him up if he threw himself down from the highest point of the temple, as Satan suggested in the desert, but he didn’t.
The chief priests, elders, and scribes mocked him and said if he was King of Israel, he should come down from the cross. They said they would then believe in him. Surely, he could have summoned his angels to himself at the cross, but he didn’t.
And God the Father could bring his judgement and wrath down on you and me daily as he did throughout the Old Testament, but he doesn’t.
A Different Kind of King
You would think Jesus, as the Son of God and God in the flesh, would have demonstrated unbelievable force and power, but he didn’t. As he walked this earth, the Lord seemed to do the exact opposite. He was not the powerful king and savior the Jews expected, and he certainly didn’t have much influence, at least not with the “powers to be” at the time.
Jesus Christ came as a force to be reckoned with.
Yet ultimately, he was a force to reckoned with, a force of peace, love, and hope that changed the world.
Forces to be Reckoned With
A force to be reckoned with is someone who is strong and cannot be ignored, someone who is up and coming, and whose power and influence must be considered.
Tiger Woods was considered to be a force to be reckoned with on the PGA Tour as observers saw things in the young player beyond his years.
In a similar way, Jesus as a child astounded the rabbis in the synagogue with his wisdom and knowledge of the scriptures. When he grew older, he quietly and humbly went about preaching, healing, and serving.
One of the underlying themes of the life of Jesus is the way he related to ordinary people and his critics, who would soon become his enemies. He certainly could have become a “wrecking ball,” wreaking the wrath and power of God on those who opposed him.
The Force Jesus Calls Us to Be
The cleansing of the temple in righteous anger aside, Jesus came to this earth and left it in humility, not leaving behind a path of hatred and retribution, but a road paved with goodness, wisdom, love, and service.
This is the Jesus who shows us how to be a force to be reckoned with in our lives. His influence grew due to his message and his living out that message, not by force or manipulating people for personal gain.
In conclusion, we too can be a force to be reckoned in the same way as we live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as we live in goodness, wisdom, love, and service.
Additional reading:
Listen to God’s Words
For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you. (2 Corinthians 13:4)
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God! (Psalm 68:35)
Also read: Isaiah 40:29-31, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Ephesians 3:20
In the Words of Others
“Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't.” Margaret Thatcher
“The measure of a man is what he does with power.” Plato
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” Abraham Lincoln
Think About It
What are the ways you believe a person could be a person to be reckoned with or a wrecking ball in a physical, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual way?
Have you ever been in a position of power and influence in your work and career? Were you a positive force or a negative influence at the time?
Cite examples of how you were in a position of power and influence in your family or social situations, and how you could have been a “wrecking ball,” and not a positive force.
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