07/09/2018
Are you strong enough to adhere to God’s commandments? Do you have sufficient strength to rise above the world and achieve great righteousness? Well, you may be strong in comparison to other men, but in God’s eyes you are a weakling, and in truth, you need the strength of Jesus in order to perfect yourself, and even then we challenge Him.
“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.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Paul says that he personally had much to boast about, but that God had placed a thorn in Him, a messenger of Satan to harass him and remind him not to brag. He even prayed three times for this thorn to be removed, but the answer was always no... he was refused so that the revelations he was receiving would not bring him conceit. When We are given understanding by God it is not to make us great, or so that we can boast of our faith; the glory associated with this is God’s, and Jesus wants us to depend on Him, and to be empowered by His strength that is made perfect by weakness. As humans we covet strength, and long for power; we view weakness as our thorn, when in fact it is the pride in our own strength that is our undoing. Andrew Murray puts it well when he writes...
“Christians think their weakness is the greatest hinderance in their life and service to God; but God tells us that our weakness is actually the secret of strength and success. It is our weakness, heartily accepted and continuously realized, that gives us our claim and access to the strength of Him who said “My strength is made perfect in weakness.”” - Andrew Murray
When we are weak we kneel more readily before God in contrition, and it causes us to lean more heavily on Jesus Christ for even a whisper of His strength to bolster us. When we admit our weakness we are giving the glory of our strength to the Lord, and scripture reminds us of this over and over again... our strength comes from the Lord.
“He 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.”
Isaiah 40:29-31 ESV
We who are weak gain strength from Him who is strong, His is the fountain of our resolve, and the manna that brings strength to our bodies. He takes away our fear and replaces it with confidence in His power.
“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, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah”
Psalms 46:1-3 ESV
Our weakness gives Him the opportunity to demonstrate His perfection in us. We are the catalyst of His glory, and our frailty is never diminished by His help. We turn to the Lord in all of our shortcomings and weaknesses, and He lifts us up so that all can see His might. So even as we gather strength from Jesus, He perfects Himself in empowering us... all of this for the glory of God.
I sit at a table before my enemies and eat as though I am not troubled. My fear is gone because my God has set this table and placed me at it. What man can boast of such a thing? Whose strength is sufficient for such courage? Only the strength of the Lord can bring us this peace in the presence of danger.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
Psalms 23:5 ESV
God glorifies Himself by addressing our weakness. He strengthens us not so that we might boast in ourselves, but so that all people everywhere will praise the Lord, and worship Him. We are to glorify Him in the strength He has given us.
“Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!”
Psalms 96:7-9 ESV
So, are you strong? Are you sufficient in your own resolve and strength to stand before the world and claim the glory for your righteousness?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the strength you provide me in my times of weakness. I lift up your name Lord to be glorified before the nations, and in the eyes of all men. You are the source of my strength, and your mercy and grace anoints me with your power. I have no claim to my righteousness because it is you who makes that possible. My weakness becomes the shofar of your might, and the messenger of your goodness to me. I know no fear Gracious Father, for I take comfort in your strength, and pride in your glory. Help me Holy Father as I resist the temptation of pride in myself. Open my eyes Lord to the truth of your provision, and the goodness you bring to me in the face of my shortcomings. Set my table before my enemies, and give me courage to dine before them without fear. Great are you my God, and all glory is yours! Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who strengthens the weak, and brings peace to the troubled. Let all creation glorify you in its frailty, for you are our God, and our strong tower.
Rich Forbes