The Power That Prevails: Day Two
Day 2: God's Extraordinary Power in Ordinary Things
Devotional
In the bustling city of Ephesus, something extraordinary was happening. God was performing miracles through the most ordinary items - Paul's sweat rags and work aprons. These weren't special religious artifacts or blessed objects; they were simply the sweat-stained cloths of a tentmaker. Yet when they touched the sick, people were healed and demons fled. This reveals something beautiful about how God works. He doesn't need elaborate ceremonies, expensive equipment, or impressive credentials to display His power. He can use the most mundane aspects of our lives to accomplish the miraculous. The power was never in the fabric itself - it was always in God. The cloth was simply the vehicle He chose to demonstrate His supremacy over the spiritual forces that dominated Ephesus. In a city obsessed with magic and the occult, God showed that His power surpasses all rival authorities. This should encourage us tremendously. You don't need to be extraordinary for God to work through you. You don't need special training, perfect circumstances, or flawless character. God delights in using ordinary people and ordinary moments to display His extraordinary power. Maybe you feel too ordinary, too broken, or too insignificant to be used by God. But remember Paul's work rags - completely ordinary, yet chosen by God for extraordinary purposes. Your availability matters more than your ability.
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise;
God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
- 1 Corinthians 1:27
Reflection Question
What 'ordinary' aspects of your life - your job, relationships, or daily routines - could God use to display His extraordinary power?
“That word extraordinary literally means this in the Greek, "not of the ordinary kind."
In other words, what was happening in Ephesus was something special and unique,
something beyond what was typically seen.” - Pastor Mike Mura
Prayer
Father, thank You that You don't need me to be extraordinary to use me for Your purposes. Help me see the ordinary moments of my life as opportunities for You to work through me. Make me available to you today. Amen.