Strength is okay, but I don’t like being weak . . .

The events of our lives over the past few weeks are overwhelming. They have made my prayer list longer than it has ever been, and even though I trust God who is sovereign, weakness and helplessness are a daily companion. There is nothing that I can do to alleviate any of these situations. God alone is wise and powerful, so in weakness I am praying.

Today’s topic is strength in weakness. For the Apostle Paul, it was a “thorn in the flesh” which is not revealed except to say God allowed it to keep him from becoming conceited by the deep revelations God had given him. It was obviously a nasty thing and this godly man asked three times for its removal, but that didn’t happen. Instead, God said to him:

 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul replied: Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Some suspect this weakness was about his propensity to sin, others figure it was a health issue. However, it also could have been the solemn realization that “in my flesh I can do nothing.” He had been in a position of authority with power, a Pharisee with considerable influence. Yet he found himself incapable of doing anything apart from humble dependence on Christ. In another passage, he described some of his strengths and what he eventually realized about them:

“For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh — though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 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 —” (Philippians 3:3–9)

Counting as rubbish all that we might put our confidence in is no small matter. It could be education, position, personality, achievements, reputation, all sorts of skills and abilities. Yet none of those things can do what God can do. God wants His people to rely on Him fully, Him only. There is nothing I can do, nothing I can say, even nothing I can imagine that will bring eternal fruit or even be a blessing to others unless it is done in faith and in full reliance upon Jesus Christ. Nothing.

This is the weakness. It isn’t about being a cripple, or physically incapable. It isn’t about losing your voice, or the constant battle with temptation. It is about fully realizing that I am only a glove; it is the Hand that does it all.

Even then, the Hand, the Lord Jesus Christ also lived and died that way — in weakness. He was fully God but also fully human:

“Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6–8)

Jesus is God, yet He took on human flesh and relied on the Father the same way I am to rely on Him — in utter weakness:

“For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.” (2 Corinthians 13:4)

Paul said that he wanted to “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” and his reason for saying it: “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death . . . ” (Philippians 3:9–10) God revealed that the power of God only comes through weakness, the weakness of His Son and the weakness of His beloved followers, and Paul understood.

^^^^^^^^

Again, Lord Jesus, I do not like the feeling of weakness, but realize that asking You to remove it would be asking You to glorify me instead of bringing glory to You. I also realize that many, even many Christians, often react negatively when someone ‘gladly boasts’ in their weaknesses. They don’t want to go there. I try to imagine what this was like for You. In the end, even Your disciples misunderstood what You were doing and why. Perhaps that is the biggest reason for disliking weakness; it is a lonely place.

Who is a genuine Christian?

Because the purpose of God in the life of His people is to transform us into the image of His Son, there are many times I look in the mirror and wonder if I am even a believer. I don’t even come close to being like Jesus. The standard is too high for me.

When I think this way, God reminds me of two things. One is that if I look at myself all I see is myself and my Christianity is not about my performance.

The other is His definition of who is a Christian and why. Paul put it this way:

“For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 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.” (Philippians 3:3–9)

If anyone could look at their own credentials and pass the test, this man could. He obviously had a zeal for God that surpasses everyone, but that was not his claim to being a child of God. He put all his history, character, performance, credentials, and everything aside because he knew righteousness was a gift of God through faith. In other words, his claim to salvation depended on Jesus Christ, not on himself or anything he was, or could do, or had done.

I’ve said before that only God can kick my behind and hug me at the same time. He has done this over and over, many times using others to humble and bless me. The hugs and kicks are repeats of what happens in salvation. He chose me, a total sinner, to be His child. He made me aware of how far short I fall and at the same time put me in His family, forgave my sin, gave me the Holy Spirit and the righteousness of Jesus Christ. That one big kick booted me into His loving care — where there are many, many hugs.

Measuring up by what I do is futile. The nation of Israel had been chosen and given the laws of God and failed. They could not keep them. Their only hope for salvation was faith in God who would send them a Messiah. But they became proud of their ‘status’ without considering that if they really believed as they claimed, their lives would show it. They could not claim ‘I am His’ without the transforming obedience that goes with faith.

When Jesus came, He offered faith and new life to all. Yet the Israelites fought that idea, insisting on circumcision and law-keeping. Duh. It had not worked for them; they could not save themselves or be what God wanted them to be by doing anything. Instead of welcoming Him, they became outraged that the despised Gentiles could be children of God just by believing in this man who claimed to be their Messiah.

“But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring . . . What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So, then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” (Romans 9:6-8 & 14-16)

My salvation is not based on my performance for my performance will always be flawed. It is based on God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, both humbling (I do not deserve it) and exalting (for the same reason)!

^^^^^^

Jesus, You saved me, not by works that I have done or any other reason based on me. You gave me new life according to Your mercy and by the power of Your Holy Spirit. I am included because of Your love and for no other reason. My life is being transformed and oddly enough, I can see it when I look at You rather than myself. You are my Savior and Lord and for that, I rejoice.

For those who have asked: My hubby is healing. He feels good, but looks awful with about 10” of stitches and much seeping blood, but the people who change his dressing say the surgery is ‘the best’ they have ever seen. So, we are taking it easy, getting lots of rest, and praying with thanksgiving. We are also praying for the people of Texas, that they will grab hold of God’s hand in their struggle to survive and recover from this catastrophic storm.

In the Potter’s hands

In our Monday Bible study, exalting a biblical person was a discouragement in a way. If I have to be well-educated, or raised by godly parents, or special in some way before God can use me, then He never will. On the other hand, I cannot say I am useless to God because God can do anything with even the most useless.

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1 Corinthians 1:27–29)

Paul understood this because he was a humble man who knew his own sinfulness. He was well-educated, respected as a Pharisee, and had many qualifications. If anyone could boast he could, yet he also said:

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh — though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 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 . . .  (Philippians 3:3–9)

Paul was not guilty of a false humility that tries to look humble before others. He knew that he was a sinner, but he also knew that in Christ he could do all things, not because of his credentials or background but because of the grace of God.

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:9–10)

Chambers says, “The way we continually talk about our own inability is an insult to the Creator. The deploring of our own incompetence is a slander against God for having overlooked us.” By this he refers to that false humility that is sometimes an excuse to not do great things for God, or a self-pitying reason why God has never asked us to do anything?

The Lord often asks me to do things that in my own self would be totally impossible, but He provides the grace to do it. Many times I’d prefer He ask me to do that which I feel capable of doing, yet that is not how He works. I’m never to boast that I am able, just as I’m never to boast that I am unable. Either of these is foolish because it is putting the attention on me when I should be giving God glory. No matter what I am, it is He who works in me.

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. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (Galatians 2:20–21)

Chambers says, “Never bother your head as to whether what you say sounds humble before men or not, but always be humble before God, and let Him be all in all.”

He adds, “One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purpose, and yours may be that life.” With that, the image of a potter shaping clay comes to mind. The clay never tells the potter what to do or how to do it. It never insists what kind of shape it should be or cannot be. It just lets the potter do with it what he wants.

Amen.