Dr. Don Kuehle, United Methodist, Retired
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Power! If only we had it. If only we had more of it than anyone else. Power increases one’s status. Power gives one control.
Power! There’s an explosive power in nuclear reactors, in TNT and dynamite. There’s an explosive force in hurricanes and tornadoes. There’s an explosive power in earthquakes and tsunami tidal waves.
Power! There’s a silent power in the tiny seed, in a pinch of yeast, in the growing grass. A minute seed, planted in the ground, will mature into a large plant. A small amount of yeast, placed in a large bowl of dough, will permeate and influence the whole mixture. The Bible speaks about this silent power! Jesus says: “The Kingdom of God is like a tiny seed growing silently in the ground.” (Luke 13:18). “The Kingdom of God is like a pinch of yeast in a large pan of dough, working silently and powerfully to influence the whole batch.” (Luke 13:20-21).
Silent power! “I know not how that Bethlehem’s Babe could in the Godhead be; I only know the Manger Child has brought God’s love to me!” Silently the Word of God came into our world, born in a manger in Bethlehem. Silently, that Word grew up in Nazareth, worked in his dad’s carpenter shop.
Silently, God’s Word came into God’s world and began to rule with heavenly authority. Few people were aware of His coming!
Silent power! The tiny seed is powerful enough to break through the outer layers of its own shell, powerful enough to break through the hard soil, powerful enough to burst forth and bloom and produce much fruit. A small amount of yeast can influence and change a large amount of dough.
The yeast has power to push the dough out of its boundaries, power to change the dough from what it is into what it can become.
The Word of God has even greater power! Power to break through human boundaries and barriers! Power to change a person, or an entire society, from what it is into what God meant it to be!
Silent power! “I know not how that Calvary’s cross a world from sin could free; I only know its matchless love has brought God’s love to me!”
Silently, and powerfully, God demonstrates His love for each of us! There is power in Jesus’ suffering, power in Jesus’ sacrificial death, power in Jesus’ forgiveness and love, power in Jesus’ resurrection from the grave!
The seed continues to grow and produce a bountiful harvest. The yeast keeps on working until it changes the whole mix. So, God’s Word continues to work in the minds and hearts and lives of people like you and me, changing us from what we are into what we can become!
The work of God goes on, often unnoticed by us. The work of God goes on, even without us. The Kingdom of God does not depend on us at all.
We can only be aware of its coming, of the influence it exerts on our lives and the lives of those around us. We can only share the “good news” of the wondrous change the Kingdom of God has made in us. We can only rejoice in the fact that the Kingdom of God offers us hope for a brighter, better, more heavenly future!
Silent power! The grass is growing! Can you hear it?
Dr. Don Kuehle, United Methodist, Retired