Does the end justify the means? If we accomplish something that is good, does it really matter how we accomplish it? The issue with living as a Christian is the power that something is accomplished with, not what is accomplished.

Zechariah 4:6b

6 …, "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.

For something we do to glorify God, it has to be accomplished using the power that God supplies, not our own might or power.

Matthew 22:29

29 But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. (Note the correlation between the Scriptures and the power of God)

Maybe one of the best passages to understand this principle is Paul’s letter to the Romans.

Romans 15:13

13 Now may the God of hope (hope is the Greek word ELPIS, which means confidence) fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Maybe it’s just me, but don’t you want to be filled with joy and peace? Don’t you want to abound in confidence in your Christian life? This is only available to us by means of the power of the Holy Spirit.

Look what Paul says to the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 2:4-5

4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, (and Paul was absolutely a genius, and was very persuasive) but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

How comforting it is as Christians to realize that our faith does not rest on our own wisdom or power, but on the very power of God! He is the one that has provided everything to us, and He is the one that will give us the power to accomplish His will for our lives.

Peter makes a great point about the power of God.

2 Peter 1:3

3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

No matter what good thing you may accomplish, God is only impressed with it if it is done using His power, which He has made available to us. How comforting to know that God has already provided all the power we need to live our spiritual life and accomplish what He has planned for us.