Interesting question, isn't it?
Am I weak enough for God? Our culture asks another question: Am I strong enough? Our culture worships strength and self sufficiency. Books are overflow the shelves of your local bookstore about greater productivity, greater influence, how to have an unshakeable will, do it yourself, and on and on they go. The world looks down upon those who are weak and laughs. The weak are viewed as the unfortunate, the exiles, and the unwanted. If you want to be great in the world, do it yourself and give the credit to no one. God isn't like this. In God's Kingdom, weakness is not powerless, it's powerful. God loves weak people. Time and time again we see in the NT that it is those that are weak in the world's eyes that get grace and those that are strong and well-off that get rebuked. Why? Because God works through weakness. He loves it. God doesn't stiff arm weak people, He lifts them up to display His power (Phil. 4:13). What is weakness, you ask? Weakness is viewing oneself the way God views us. In God's view, we are broken, weak, and can do nothing without Him (John 5:19). When I look at myself through the lens of the Bible with the help of the Spirit, I see a weak man who can do nothing well without God. Is this depressing? In the world's eyes, it's crushing. What hope do we have if we are weak? What can we hope to accomplish? God says we have everything to gain (Phil. 1:21). Are you weak enough for God? How can I get weak before God? Perhaps the better question to ask is not how can I get weak, but how can I have a greater perception of what I already am? I am already weak, I just need to realize it more, everyday. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." This is something we will never understand fully. Sure, we can know we are weak today, but tomorrow God may graciously grant you the ability, through the Spirit, to see how much weaker you really are. God telling us "My grace is sufficient for you" is not something we experience all at once and than 2 Corinthians 12:9 is no longer applicable to us. 2 Corinthians 12:9 is the Christian life. We do not grow outside of God's grace. We need it. And we see it's power and effects through weakness. Are you weak enough for God? Let's be weak, together and see His power made known through us for His glory.
1 Comment
Pastor Bishir
2/16/2016 06:08:46 am
Great Blog! Enjoy reading you weekly!
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About MeI am a Husband to Clarissa, Pastor at Liberty Baptist Church, reader of many books, and tweeter at @brad_merchant. Archives
July 2016
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