Power: The good, the bad, and the ugly

All of us have power, and we had better claim it and take responsibility for it. Power is necessary, and when used ethically and with good moral direction it can be a force for the good of all people. In Acts 2, when God poured out the Holy Spirit, the new church, the followers of Jesus Christ, became powerful. Since that time, the church has wrestled with how to handle that power. Jesus set an example for us. Jesus had great power but he did not use it coercively. Jesus' vulnerability and grace made his power apparent to all and changed the world. With the power of the Holy Spirit available to us, we have the power to accept God's grace and let go of self-interest without losing self.