Strength in Weakness

Strength in weakness
The apostle Paul writes,
“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 
When I read this passage I am reminded of the rich man that came to Jesus as recorded in Matthew’s gospel. Matthew records,
“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 
“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’” 
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” Matthew 19:16-22.
The young man in this situation put more faith in his wealth than in God. That is not what God wants.
The point here is that we should be putting our faith entirely in God not in our wealth or our own strength.
Now there is nothing wrong with being strong and wealthy. However we should not put our trust in them. Our wealth can vanish in an instant. Our strength can do the same.
The prophet Isaiah states,

“A voice says, “Cry out.” 

And I said, “What shall I cry?” 

“All men are like grass, 

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, 

because the breath of the LORD blows on them. 

Surely the people are grass. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, 

but the word of our God stands forever.” 

                                                  Isaiah 40:6-8

It should be immaterial to our faith whether we have wealth and strength. We should never boast about these things. We need to believe the words Christ spoken to the apostle Paul when he said,
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 
If we must boast we should be boasting about Jesus and all He has done for us.
Please think about it.

Pharisee or Disciple

Pharisee or Disciple
Luke’s Gospel records,
“Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him.  
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 
Then Jesus told them this parable:  
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  
And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’  
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:1-7.
Someone told me recently that what passes for Evangelical Christianity in North America and particularly in the United States is known for what it is against rather than what it is for.
They noted that those claiming to be Evangelical Christians have become very judgmental and political. Very much like the Pharisees that seen Jesus sitting with the tax collectors and sinners. As a result they are in danger of, if they haven’t already, losing their message.
The person was right. Here in North America many calling themselves Christians have placed themselves as judge and juror of those they deem to be living a quote, “sinful life”
They are very vocal against anyone who has a different faith, or lifestyle to theirs, quite often calling it “sinful”
The apostle Paul tells us,

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church?

 Are you not to judge those inside?  

God will judge those outside. 

“Expel the wicked man from among you.” 

                                          1 Corinthians 5:12,13

When I see or hear of someone calling themselves Christian speaking out against those of other faiths or lifestyle it bothers me. Jesus the Son of God, never spoke against those outside his faith, nor did his disciples. Nor did they protest against anything. Yet they changed the world.
Billy Graham the great American Evangelist said,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham.
If someone claims to be a Christian they need to have their lives “turned right side up”.
If you claim to be Christian you need to remember that it is not the Christian’s job to stand in judgement of ones fellow man. To quote Billy Graham again,

"It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love," 

                     Billy Graham

At the beginning of this article I quoted the parable of the lost sheep. In our world today and especially here in North America there are many lost sheep. Not just outside the church but inside also. Men and women who are misguided and following wrong teaching that if not corrected will lead them to destruction.
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21-23.
If you claim to be a Christian your job is to win souls for Christ. To do this you must love unconditionally and not judge anyone in the slightest.
C. S. Lewis wrote,

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable 

because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” 

                                                                     C.S. Lewis 

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 

                                                                  Francis of Assisi.

Consider this. If you claim to be a follower of Christ. Take a moment to pray and ask God if you are acting like a Pharisee or like a disciple of Christ.
Please think carefully and prayerfully about it.