Not By Might Nor By Power

I didn't get saved until I was in my mid-twenties.  Growing up in this world, there is a constant perception that we have to do it all. We have to manage everything ourselves. Being 'strong' is an asset to be desired, and it shows that you have everything under control. Weakness comes in the form of acknowledging you need a little help. 

God doesn't see it that way. 

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. -1 Corinthians 1:27

Real might isn't our own strength on display for the world to see, it is God's strength manifested in us, for His glory. In fact, right before the verse above, it says that not many mighty (according to the flesh) are called. Why would we want to rely on our own power, when the God who created the heavens and the earth so freely offers up His strength for us?

Our God is mighty!  His understanding is infinite. With His mighty outstretched arm, He protects, and with the same arm, He pours out His judgement. He has the power to heal the sick and to raise the dead. In Him, we can drink from the unfailing fountain of eternal life. 

We don't have to navigate this world alone, pretending to have it all under control.  Through Him, we can walk victoriously.  Equipped with the armor of God and the Sword of the Spirit, we face this world. A world that Jesus has already overcome; and we do so with the knowledge that we are more than conquerors through Him. 

So, let the weak say, 'I am strong'!  For, He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world.

Catching Humility

Humility so often eludes us.  It's a silent companion that once acknowledged, vanishes into thin air, leaving pride to rear its ugly head. Pride is such a difficult adversary.  

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6)

So often when we are praised for something, we outwardly ask for it to stop, while inside, we are secretly swallowing the sweet indulgence of it. When we do that, God resists us. It is only when we are completely fixed on Him, and not on ourselves or what we can gain, that we can truly see His grace manifested in our lives. It is always there, that beautiful grace, but we are so careless with it.  We treat it as something that is owed to us.  Such pride. 

James 4:10 says Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.  The word humble there means to depress; figuratively to humiliate (in condition or heart): - abase, bring low, humble (self). In other words, it is when we esteem nothing of ourselves, and when we have gone as low as possible, that we can be lifted back up. Why? Because He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30).  That's the whole goal of this Christian walk, isn't it?  To be transformed into someone more like Christ.

Do not be discouraged though, because none of us have completely gotten the hang of this humility thing yet.  God is doing that work in us now. But, seek it.  Seek Him. Have a thirst that can only be quenched by a river of living water.  Life becomes so much more beautiful when we take our eyes off ourselves, and fix our gaze upon our heavenly Father; who ordained the moon and the stars and chose you before the foundation of the earth.

Just Peachy

I was looking at my 21 month old yesterday.  Not just looking to ensure he's in the same room and not putting anything hazardous in his mouth, but really looking at him; studying him. His new thing is to yell 'stomp' as he stomps his feet on the floor and laughs.  When I took his stuffed lion, Simba, and made him stomp, my little ones face changed from total excitement to amazement and wonder. Simba can stomp too?! After a couple minutes of stomping, he placed Simba on a pillow and said 'nap'. How considerate this little boy is. And how good life is right now.  

Life is just peachy.  Yes, I have my everyday struggles like everybody else, but right now my life is so good.

Do I want to go through trials?  No.  Do I want to be closer to God?  Of course.  Sometimes, however, things are not so black and white. 

The bible says:

⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. ¹⁰ But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ¹¹ To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:8-11)

Life happens.  Things don’t go as planned (our plan).  As Christians, we are not exempt from trials or suffering – we are told to expect it.  But what do most of us do as soon as we become uncomfortable in our current situation? We ask God to take this cup from us.  We run to Him right away and ask Him to make it better.  James 1:2-4 says

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 

Count it all joy? But, how?  By recognizing that our joy doesn't come from our present circumstances.  By remembering that in His presence is fullness of joy.  By staying steadfast in faith – not faith in ourselves or people around us, but faith in Him.   

I don’t want to go through trials, I really don’t.  But, I do want my relationship with God to grow.  So, if I am going to call myself a Christian, I have to embrace everything that the Bible says, not just the parts that make me feel good.  And truth be told, I sometimes feel closer to God during those difficult times then when life is just peachy.

Life is good right now, and for that, I am so, so grateful.  But, I know that lion is out there.  And I can’t make any promises, but the next time life hands me something that I wasn't expecting, I am going to first try to thank God for whatever He is trying to teach me. Because that lion may be looking to devour me, but my God is so much bigger and stronger than he will ever be. 

The Right Healing

Luke 5:17-25: 

17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.

20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 

25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”

This must have been quite a scene - lowering a paralyzed man down from a roof in the middle of a huge crowd. Not something you see every day! 

I think it is interesting that Jesus’ initial reaction to this faith wasn't to heal this man’s body, but to forgive his sins. That, of course set the stage for unbelief in the Pharisees and then eventually healing the man … but, His initial reaction was to forgive his sins. That is why He was sent here – to take our place on that cross of judgment. To bear my sins and yours. To give us the ability to come before the throne room of grace boldly in our time of need. 

Jesus knew that regardless of what happens to this body in this life, it is the eternal life that really matters. If, as Christians, our ultimate goal is to be like Jesus, then we should strive to have this same mentality, as difficult as it may be sometimes. We need to put our trust in Him, and Him alone. Not what the world says, or what our flesh wants. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.