In the 1988 film Willow, written by George Lucas and Bob Dolman, the village sorcerer asks the titular character, “Which finger has the power to control the world?” In the scene, three candidates for the sorcerer’s apprentice choose a finger from the sorcerer’s extended hand. All three, including Willow, chose the wrong finger. Later, the sorcerer asks Willow what his first inclination was, and Willow said he thought it might be his own finger, which was the correct answer. The rest of the movie follows Willow on a quest that tests his mettle and stretches his confidence. In the end, the quest to return a human baby was successful because of Willow.

A Single Life

The story illustrates the power of a single person to change the outcome of an event, a life, or even the world. The Bible often focuses on a single life that changes the world. Noah saved life on earth because he found grace in the eyes of God (Gen 6:8). God called Abraham to be the father of his chosen people, and his seed would bless all the nations of the earth (Gen 12:1-3; 22:17-18). Of course, that single seed, Jesus, became the Savior of the world. That is the power of one.

One. One. One in Ephesians.

In 2025, the Baker Heights preaching theme will be “The Power of One.” This series will draw upon Paul’s unifying statements in Ephesians 4:4-6, “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” We will also examine things like the power of one death, the power of one sin, and the power of one deed.

Thinking about the upcoming year and the theme, what is the power of one life? What is the power of your life? How can you change the world? Never forget God gives you the power to do more than you could ever do alone, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…” (Eph 3:20).