A Closer Walk
Life can be hard. Yet life is beautiful. Rewarding. Glorious. Sometimes we feel strong, capable. Other times we feel weak, incapable. But each and every day, the sun comes up, and we have another grand and glorious day here on earth. Another day in the Kingdom of God. Another day as a child of God. And another day of opportunities to serve our Lord, and His Kingdom.
The Apostle Paul also experienced feeling weak. "And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh...Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. and He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness'," 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NASB. Power is perfected in weakness?
Further, Paul goes on to say, “...for when I am weak, then I am strong,” 2 Corinthians 12:10 NASB. When we feel strong and capable we are able to accomplish things on our own, in our own power, so to speak. However, during those times when we feel weak and incapable, that is when we must, out of necessity, rely on our God. Those may be the times that the hand of God is on us most completely. He is able then to work through us more fully. His power is on display, and not our own. His power is made perfect when we arrive at the point where we might say, “I can go no further.” Or, “I can't do this.”
By working through us more fully, He can make Himself known more fully. Those around us may be able to actually see the hand of God with us, or on us. They may learn that our Lord is not only able to help us mere mortals, but is also willing to help us. Throughout the Old Testament the Lord God helped those who wanted and asked for his help. Throughout the New Testament the Lord Jesus Christ helped those who wanted and asked for His help. An example: “And a certain man was there, who had been thirty-eight years in his sickness. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, 'Do you wish to get well'?” John 5:5-6 NASB.
Although this passage from John doesn't specifically tell us this man was a beggar, we do know that begging was common in that day. If the man was a beggar, and he received healing, he would no longer be able to beg. His life would change. He would need to get a different job. But the man did wish to be healed and so Jesus healed him. Those who knew the man (family, friends, etc.), could clearly see that he had been healed, after thirty eight years in his affliction. The man would likely tell anyone who listened that Jesus from Nazareth was the one who had healed him.
The power of God, manifest in the persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, is on display when we are too weak to help ourselves. Then we, like the Apostle Paul, may proclaim, “When I am weak, then I am strong”. Because God's power is perfected in our weakness.
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My beloved and I want to wish all of you a very Happy New Year. “The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace,” Numbers 6:24-26 NASB.