By Julian Wells

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Pet. 4:10-11 NIV)

I keep my Bible bookmarked at these verses and have turned there so often through the years that the page is torn in the corner. These divinely inspired words from Peter keep me mindful of the awesome responsibility of correctly handling God’s Word, while also reminding me of the unlimited divine resources at my disposal.

Saint Augustine once said, “A Christian is a mind through which Christ thinks, a heart through which Christ loves, a voice through which Christ speaks, and a hand through which Christ helps.” When you consider the Christian life from that perspective, it clarifies the point Christ was making when He declared to His disciples, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12 NIV)

On the surface, that statement sounds ridiculous. And if we’re trying to live the life Christ calls on us to live in our own strength, indeed it is. But if we’re trying to live the Christian life in our own strength, we’re doing it all wrong.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NIV)