“I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8, NLT)
As I consider how Son Power works in and through all believers, I believe it is best explained by what I like to describe as the “4 Rs”: Relationship, Revelation, Reflection, and Redemption. All of these Rs are connected to and interrelated with each other.
Relationship
We have a relationship with almighty God through his Son, Jesus Christ. This relationship is established by receiving Christ as our personal Savior and trusting in his saving work on the cross.
Revelation
The relationship we have with God, when it is alive and growing, leads to revelation. As we spend time in God’s Word, he reveals his will to us. In Jeremiah 33:3 we read, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (NIV). As we spend time in God’s Word, he will guide and direct our steps as we trust in him. All of this becomes a reality in our lives as we allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds and transform us from within.
Reflection
After something is revealed to us, we must reflect upon it. What does this mean? What should we do with what has been revealed to us? How does this impact our lives and the world around us? Does this revelation require action on our part? This really is the beginning of Son Power working its way in and through our lives.
We have a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ, his Son; the Holy Spirit reveals God’s will to us; and we must reflect on what is revealed to us in order to move forward in the strength and wisdom of the Spirit. All of these principles are interrelated. When we are faced with the claims of Christ, we must make a decision. We must be careful to act in whatever way God is directing us when his will is revealed to us. Son Power enlightens us in the process of revelation. It directs us to make right decisions and empowers us to follow through on those decisions.
Redemption
Once we decide to act on what has been revealed to us, we are in a position to redeem our world for God and his purposes. Because of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we understand that we are living in a world that in its present form is passing away. Everything we can see and touch is in the process of perishing. But we know that we can converterlate the perishable items of time, talent, and treasure of this world into the imperishable values and treasure of the world to come. The New Testament instructs us, “Make the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:16, NLT), and “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5, NLT).
If you were to ask a friend, What does the word redemption mean? they might be a little perplexed. The definition of redemption according to Merriam-Webster is the act of making something better or more acceptable, the act of exchanging something for some kind of award. Other definitions include repurchasing something or making a deliverance or rescue. We could also include the idea of exchanging something by using something else of value. To redeem something essentially means to buy it back or regain possession of it. It is a “recover and restore” process.
When we decide to move into the redemption phase of God’s revelation, we are not merely making the most of something. We are actually intentionally seizing an opportunity for a special work.
The 4 Rs are intertwined and represent a cycle. They also intersect with the “soak, sow, and flow” principle. Since this is a circular illustration, I’ve also added a “grow” component to the “soak, sow, and flow” that takes the process one step further. I believe this concept is best illustrated by what I like to refer to as a “Sonburst of Revelation.” This is actually a circle that represents a continuing reference to a key revelation from God.
Take a moment to really consider your life. Do you move through the 4 Rs or do you often get “stuck” at one place in the cycle? What steps can you take to be more intentional in continuing to move around the circle?
Son Power empowers us to intentionally seize an opportunity from God for his special work.