My family has fully bought into the Spider-Man storyline. You can find us arguing about which Spider-Man movie is the best or which actor plays Peter the best. While the house may be divided on Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, or Tom Holland, we all rally around Peter as he goes from “no one” to the neighborhood hero.
As Peter goes from an ordinary kid to someone with incredible strength and ability, his uncle gives him timely advice that becomes central to the Spider-Man story: “With great power comes great responsibility.”
That same principle is needed today by everyone who follows Jesus.
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,” and that this power would lead them to be His witnesses throughout the world (Acts 1:8).
At the end of every Kamper term, we believe kids leave with the power of the Holy Spirit living within them. And with that power comes responsibility.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Today, by the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God the Father, let’s be found faithful with what God has placed before us. Let’s handle with great care the responsibilities God has entrusted to us. Let us be faithful employees, present parents, loving spouses, humble leaders, trusted mentors, kind friends, joyful witnesses to strangers—and faithful wherever the Lord may take us.
The twelve apostles experienced the power of God firsthand during their three years of walking with Jesus. They saw miracles, heard His teaching, and were even sent out with authority to preach the Gospel and minister to others.
But experiencing God’s power didn’t automatically mean they understood how to use it.
In Luke 9, James and John become frustrated when a Samaritan village refuses to welcome Jesus and His disciples as they journey toward Jerusalem. Their response is remarkable.
“Lord,” they ask, “do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”
What?!
In my many years of following Jesus, I have yet to think I had the power—or the boldness—to make such a claim.
James and John were fired up. They were passionate about Jesus. They felt that this village had mocked or wronged their Lord, and they believed they had the power to do something about it.
The village needed a lesson.
And they had the power to give it.
But Luke tells us that Jesus “turned and rebuked them.” The Lord did not honor their request. Instead, He immediately redirected their passion.
Some translations add Jesus’ explanation: “For the Son of Man came not to destroy people’s lives but to save them.”
James and John had power.
But they hadn’t yet learned how to steward that power.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Today, we have the power, authority, and influence to represent Christ wherever we go. We have the power to speak words of life. We have the authority to serve with humility. We have the opportunity to speak truth with grace.
The question isn’t simply, “Do I have power?”
The question is, “How will I use the power God has given me?”
The kingdom of heaven is marked by men and women who are responsible with the gifts, authority, and influence God has entrusted to them.
Jesus illustrated this in Matthew 25 through the parable of the talents. A man went on a journey and entrusted his property to his servants. One received five talents, another two, and another one. The first two servants took what had been entrusted to them and put it to work. The third servant buried what he had been given.
When the master returned, he was pleased with the servants who had faithfully invested what they had received.
He said, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.”
The master gave them something valuable, and they took what had been given to them and faithfully made the most of it.
With great power comes great responsibility.
God has given each of us something to steward.
He has given us gifts.
He has given us influence.
He has given us opportunities.
He has given us the power of His Spirit.
And one day, we will give an account for how we used what He entrusted to us.
So today, tomorrow, and into the future, may we be men and women who do much with what God has given us.
May we use our influence to encourage.
May we use our authority to serve.
May we use our words to bring life.
May we use our gifts to build His kingdom.
And may we faithfully steward every opportunity God places before us.
Because the goal isn’t simply to have great power.
The goal is to be found faithful with it.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Kevin Harrison
K-West Director
