Feeling Inadequate?

Life is challenging at the best of times. For most if not all of it, many feel inadequate. I feel inadequate. This has not always been. As a young person, I figured I could do anything and spent a lot of my life trying to prove it. After a while, I realized several areas in which I am insufficient.

For instance, I cannot sing on tune and I’m lousy with small talk, but the biggie is that I cannot be perfectly righteous. This is not for lack of effort, but several horrendous failures have brought me to understand my need of Jesus Christ and His righteousness. My own is insufficient. This morning’s devotional introduces that insufficiency in a couple of verses:

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2:14–16)

Who is sufficient for these things indeed! A victorious, sweet-smelling life can happen only through faith in Jesus Christ. He gives me what I need to bless others — and to convict others. On my own, I am completely and totally inadequate to do either.

The devotional writer makes three solid points concerning what is needed to be a child of God. As I read them, I agreed and even add that these are also needed to live a Christian life in victory. All three are from Jesus.

Perfect righteousness. In myself, this first one is totally impossible. Even the ‘good’ I do is tainted with selfishness, sometimes in my motive, sometimes in the celebration after it is done. Only by the incarnation and obedience of his Son can I be righteous. He perfectly obeyed the law of God as a man, establishing righteousness in the earth, the only righteousness My righteousness is filthy rags in the sight of a holy God and not at all acceptable. However, God accepts the righteousness of his Son. This perfect righteousness is imputed to every sinner who believes on Him, meaning I have the perfect righteousness of the God-man, my Savior Jesus Christ.

Death. The Bible says that “the wages of sin is death” and “the soul that sins must die.” If I paid that penalty, then what? But God, in great mercy provided that death for me in the sin-atoning death of his Son. Jesus died as my Substitute, bearing my sin in His own body. God put me “in Him” so that I died with Him.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

I am not adequate. I could not pay my own penalty. Unless Jesus died for me, I would perish.

Faith. Some might say they are saved because of their faith in Jesus. “My faith” is insufficient. How often I fail to trust Him, even for the smallest things. I cannot muster faith when it is needed. However, God says:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

My faith is inadequate, but that faith is not what saves; it is this faith that God gives as a gift. In some passages, He calls it “the faith of Christ.” I can rest my life on Him because He granted to me this amazing gift. It came to me by hearing His Word, not a general hearing of what the Bible says, but a specific hearing Him speaking to me, Him calling me into His forever family. This faith is adequate because it is from God and not something I can do or drum up apart from Him.

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Oh Jesus, I am so aware of my inadequacies, but at the same time You make me increasingly aware of Your perfections. Because God has blessed me and united me to You, I have all that I need and more. I can ‘smell good’ to those on the way to their own salvation. I can bring deep conviction of sin to the nostrils of those who reject You. This is not my own doing — I am totally inadequate — it is what You do by grace in the lives of Your people. What a privilege to know and love You, to be given Your righteousness, to experience that death that gives me Your life, and to be given the amazing grace to believe it all. Oh, how I love You — because You first loved me.

A victory parade

In the ancient world when an army won a victory, their leader led the soldiers and their spoils of war in a procession, usually into their home city and with all captured prisoners in the parade. Those who stood in the sidelines watching this spectacle were either absolutely delighted with the sights and smells of this display OR they were like those whose favorite sports team has been skunked — they turned up their noses in disgust.

For Christians, the victory over sin and death has been won. We don’t need to talk about “getting the victory” because it is ours already. We only need to hold our heads high and proceed — and as we do, He spreads abroad the perfume of Christ, showing the onlookers that we know Him . . .

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:14–16)

This is delightful imagery. I watched most of a special outdoor hockey game yesterday on television. The players came on the ice in single file, ready to do their best for the large crowd who came to see their team. They were hopeful and excited.

The same players later left the ice. One team scored three goals; the other none. Their exit from the ice was not the same as when they arrived. The winners were far more exuberant than when they started, and the losers were dejected. The perfume was sweat but the aroma was different for those who win.

The point of these verses is that I am victorious in Christ Jesus. No matter what my game looks like, He has secured it for me. When I march with Him, I carry with me the sweet smell of one who knows Jesus. I can hold my head high in the excitement of an eternal winner.

As for those who watch, their responses will depend on who they are cheering for. Those who love God and hate sin will see the Grand Leader of the parade and be excited. They may not know what draws them to this joy, but eventually they too will be in the throng that marches with Jesus.

However, some will love sin and hate God. For them, the aroma of this passing parade will be a stench, not because it is foul but because that will be how they perceive it. The victory parade is to them a proclamation of loss and death, their loss and death. They will not perceive it as it is because sin blinds our eyes to spiritual realities.

“Who is sufficient for these things?” I cannot make my life smell good to those who are drawn to my Leader and Lord. I cannot even know who they are. This is the same for those who hate God. While their decision and attitude might be more visible to me, how they see me and how they respond to the life of Christ in me and the victory parade He leads is not my doing. I am not sufficient or adequate for any of that. All I can do is walk behind Jesus, confident that He has made me victorious in Him, and joyful that I am in this celebration!

 

 

The mark of Jesus

Last night I watched an Olympic athlete take third place in a race. Her face shone with joy, yet her joy was not like the others. She verified my perception when she opened her mouth to thank God for giving her this gift to run. 
 

Years ago, a friend told us that before she became a Christian, she recognized Christians because their faces shone. Sometimes I recognize those who believe by their gentle spirit or by their serenity, or by their love for others. In the early days of the church, another characteristic gave them away.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)

Because of Jesus, these ordinary men had an extraordinary boldness. In other passages, this change of demeanor is described as a fragrance.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:14–16)

In still other verses, God’s Word uses more metaphors for the attitude and actions of His people. He calls us salt and light.

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13–16)

Today’s devotional author says that whatever occupies my mind will be stamped in some way on my outward appearance. That is, if I am preoccupied with this world, it will make an impression on me. If I think of my trials and sorrows, that will somehow show up in my outward appearance. If my focus is my failures, people will see that in me. 

Instead, if I practice the Christian discipline of looking at Jesus and letting thoughts of Him fill my heart and mind, then my life will be impressed with Him and others will know that I believe in Jesus. 

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Some days, Lord, I do not feel particularly bold. I wonder if my life is fragrant or just smelly. I pray to be salt and light but cannot taste or sense any changes. Yet two things come to mind. One is when a person I had not shared my faith with told another person that she knew I was a Christian. I do not know how she knew except that You had put Your mark on me. The other thought is that a reflection cannot see its own self; the image that is reflected is for others to see. With that in mind, keep my mind stayed on You that I might faithfully and joyfully reflect to the world the image of You.

Hailstorm produces perfume

Last night, after several days of extreme heat, we experienced what often happens here; a severe thunderstorm that brought with it marble-sized balls of ice that sounded like machine gunfire against the windows. How can words describe the fury of a hailstorm? It went on and on for more than half an hour, decimating plants and filling the gutters with rapids and piles of ice. 
 

I grabbed my camera and went to the front door, somewhat sheltered from the storm. When I opened it, the first thing I noticed was a strong pine fragrance. The hail had battered our front yard tree, and while in the blast was doing much damage, it also released this pleasing smell. This morning in astonishing providence, this is the verse that God had placed in my devotional reading.

Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden, let its spices flow. Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits. (Song of Solomon 4:16)

The author of the devotional said, and I quote, “Sometimes God sends severe blasts of trial upon His children to develop their graces. Just as torches burn most brightly when swung violently to and fro; just as the juniper plant smells sweetest when flung into the flames; so the richest qualities of a Christian often come out under the north wind of suffering and adversity. Bruised hearts often emit the fragrance that God loves to smell. Almost every true believer’s experience contains the record of trials which were sent for the purpose of shaking the spice tree.”

Whatever the power of this storm accomplished in a negative sense, God used it to give me a very powerful reminder that in the blast of this storm or any of life’s storms, the bruising is always accompanied by His purposes. He wants to bring forth the grace and beauty of a life submitted to His will, a life that is becoming more like Jesus.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:14–16)

Who indeed?

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Lord, you gave me the wonder of Romans 8:28-29 when You first came into my life. You use all things together for my good, that I might be transformed into the image of Your Son. You remind me again, this time using a storm and the smell of a pine tree, combined with this unusual verse that I might have passed over otherwise. Today, may I worship You, not only for Your power illustrated in storms and the release of sweet perfume, but for Your grace in and wisdom in giving meaning and purpose to life’s scarier events.