Strength in weakness . . .

 

The English word STRENGTH appears in my Bible more than 160 times. Even a quick glance shows the difference between human strength and the strength that God has and offers to those in need. His strength goes beyond adrenalin and any super effort we make because He gives it only when we are at the end of ourselves, without any power to deal with the problem or threat at hand.

Both OT and NT are clear regarding salvation; there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. This is a work of God. Exodus 15:2 says, “The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”

The NT says in 2 Corinthians 4:6–7, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” and “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.”

The life of faith is not lived in human strength either. The Bible repeatedly says that God’s people rely on God’s strength and outlines many reasons why. For instance, only God has the strength to deal with our enemies whether physical or spiritual.

 David said, “You equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me” and “Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger” and “For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me” and “The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.”

Not everyone believed this. Isaiah wrote, “For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’ But you were unwilling, and you said, ‘No! We will flee upon horses;’ therefore you shall flee away; and ‘We will ride upon swift steeds;’ therefore your pursuers shall be swift.”

They found out the hard way that God “gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” God’s strength is perfected in our weakness, not built upon our human abilities.

Jeremiah wrote the same thing: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord” and “My transgressions were bound into a yoke; by his hand they were fastened together; they were set upon my neck; he caused my strength to fail; the Lord gave me into the hands of those whom I cannot withstand.” Learning we are weak is a painful lesson!

Yet God’s strength is there for us. The OT says, “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” and “For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.”

 Nehemiah told those who helped him rebuild the wall of Jerusalem to go their way and enjoy their food and “do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Those who learn to live by God’s strength discover a new power against fear and unrest:

Psalm 29:11. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!

Psalm 46:1–2. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea.

His power becomes part of our worship as well as being a new way to live.

1 Chronicles 29:11-12. “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.”

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. This focus is easier when I recognize my helplessness as did Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7–10. “ . . . a thorn was given me . . . to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this . . . But he said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  . . . For when I am weak, then I am strong.” I don’t like being helpless, but God’s strength is worth being weak!

 

God is great, greater, greatest . . .

 

Someone once teased our family for always saying “it was the best I’ve ever . . . .” seen or eaten or experienced. Realizing it was a silly way to boast, we quit saying that. Now I notice other people using this expression about everything from food, travel, and cute babies as a form of one-upmanship.

In the OT, the idea of one thing SURPASSING all others is tied to human affairs. In the NT, this word is tied to the amazing work of the Lord. Who He is and what He does is greater than anything else we know or experience.

One verse uses surpass to compare how the new covenant is more glorious:

2 Corinthians 3:9–11. “For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.”

When it comes to describing God, logically the NT writers used words that lift Him above the ordinary. Everything about Him is far greater than anything else that we know, beginning with His power:

2 Corinthians 4:6–7. “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”

Paul may have used this word in writing to the Corinthians because they were caught up in exalting themselves, much like one-upmanship. He wanted to show them that what God does is far greater and far more worthy of their praise. Also, any good they or Paul did, was because of the surpassing grace of God:

2 Corinthians 9:10–14. “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.”

Paul could have played the one-upmanship game, but he knew better:

2 Corinthians 12:6–9. “Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

The NT makes it clear that whatever we know and do is from the Lord:

Ephesians 3:17–21. “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Philippians 3:7–9. “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.”

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. The reality that God’s goodness is beyond my imagination comes out in this instruction that links faith with prayer and a thankful heart to what He does in return:

Philippians 4:6–7. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Praise God for His surpassing gifts!