Tag Archives: Strength

All of Me

Ordinary Time
January 14, 2018

Scripture Reading: John 1:43-51

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there Ithe fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’—John 1:47-51

My step-grandfather, the only grandfather I ever knew, was a craft carpenter. He did beautify work in wood. Picking the wood for a project was the most important aspect. Even after finding the perfect piece, my grandfather would study it completely learning every unique grain design, where the flaws were he might have to work around, and where the grain was just perfect so he could exploit them to make a good piece great. God knows each of God’s children in the same way. God helps us learn from and overcome our flaws and makes our gifts stronger.

I am a bit unnerved by the thought that God knows me so intimately, but I am probably more comforted by it. I do not have to waste God’s or my time pretending I am not me.  I remember Paul’s account of communing with God about his thorn in the flesh:

but [the Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

God can use our flaws when we open ourselves fully to relationship with God.

One of my college English professors had worked as a public school superintendent. He told my class once that he never hired teachers who only made A’s. He feared they would not know what it feels like to fail and recover. I do not put that much stock in grades, but I got his point and remembered the wisdom of his concern. I also always made C’s in penmanship, so I had nothing to worry about meeting my teacher’s criteria.

Prayer: God of both the Weak and the Strong, help us learn from our flaws and use our strengths to your service. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Weak and Strong

Living in the Spirit
June 16, 2017

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-8

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. –Romans 5:6-8

The word weak* used here means without strength perhaps even ill. I know weak. My grip is not good. The small lids on salad dressing bottles are my enemy. Someone gave me a pair of adjustable pliers that I leave set in the groove for removing the lids from my salad dressing. It works amazingly well after I discovered its utility, I try once to open a lid, which occasionally works, but then I grab my trusty pliers. The thing about weakness is we must know and accept it before we find a way to the end we desire.

As much as we humans, particularly Americans, like to think and act individually we were created to live and breathe and have our being** in community as we are called to be the Body of Christ on earth today. We could all make long lists of outstanding individuals who have accomplished amazing things. Not a single one of them can take credit alone for their accomplishments. They each had a mother, father, teacher mentor, soulmate who enabled his or her work. We as the Body of Christ cannot take credit alone for anything we accomplish as Christ formed and commissioned us and dwells with us in all that we do.

Love does not require credits. I heard once again a policeman being interviewed on the news about saving someone’s life. He risks his life to save the other. His response was “It’s my job.” Loving is just our job. We do it better when our love impacts others to love. When we all love one another, the entire world will know wholeness. That is God’s love.

Prayer: Lord, we each have weaknesses and strengths. Enable us to work together so that all become strong in your service. Amen.

*http://biblehub.com/greek/772.htm
**See Acts 17:28

All scriptures are quoted from the new Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Weakness as Strength

Weakness and strengthEastertide
July 3, 2015

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. –2 Corinthians 12:8-10

What does it mean power is made perfect in weakness? I can unpack this phrase in more than one way. Weakness implies a lack of strength to the point of no strength left at all, but that is never the case really is it? I am a bit claustrophobic. Several years ago I was having some medical tests run and the first preparatory step was to strap me done to a gurney on which I would be wheeled to the machine where I had to be perfectly still. Immediately after attaching the straps the assistant getting me ready was called to help someone in another room. The minute she walked out of the area, my claustrophobia kicked in. I even called out but there was no one to hear. I had to turn inward, through prayer, and find the inner strength to be at peace and did. It actually surprised me.

Christ crucified was a different matter. Jesus was hanging on a cross, one of the cruelest forms of execution, and he did cry out not just in physical pain, but also in the stress of feeling alone.  Death was the reality he faced and the reality came. Christ crucified was Paul’s role model. Christ crucified, who died, was the one who met Paul, then Saul, on the road to Damascus and called him to his ministry. The power of Christ crucified was Paul’s sustaining grace in all the trials he faced even unto death.

My heart still goes out to those nine people killed in Charleston during Bible study. Of this I am sure, Christ crucified was standing in the midst of them throughout the whole ordeal and Christ crucified will make their deaths mean something through those of us left to carry on.

Prayer: Lord, let your strength be in us and make our weakness stronger than evil. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Feed Them with Justice

leg pressLiving in the Spirit
November 17, 2014

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. — Ezekiel 34:15-16

The prophets can get downright nasty at times when indicating what will happen to oppressors and others of that ilk. In the part of the scripture for today that is quoted above, the prophet indicates that God will seek the lost, bring back strays, treat the injured, and strengthen the weak. Most of us try to identify with one of the other of these categories and feel good about this scripture. But I was rather taken back by what God threatened to do with the fat and the strong. God plans to destroy them by feeding them justice. I think that may mean that God is promising to return all to a state of good health including the fat and the strong.

I have mentioned before that I was morbidly obese for several years. While obesity is terrible on knees one of its few good side effects is that it strengthens bones and muscle because the mere act of carrying around all that extra weight is very real weight-bearing exercise. My self-imposed “feeding of justice” that returned me to better health was eating 1200 calories a day of quality food, and doing a lot of exercise.  As I began to lose pounds I also lost the ability to push as much weight on the leg press as I had been able to do when I was heavier. In moving toward optimum health for me, I had lost strength in my legs. Proportionately I have increased strength as I can now press leg weights equal to my body weight, which I could not do when I was overweight, although I could press more actual pounds when I was overweight than I can now.  I guess what I am trying to say is the person who is being oppressive is just as in need of God’s healing mercies as the ones being oppressed, although they probably do not think they are, because from their point of view, they are stronger than the people they are oppressing.

I may be putting words in Ezekiel writings, but I think he is saying that God wants even the oppressors in our world to know the “health” of the love of God. God wants everyone to function at their very best as co-workers in God’s kingdom with everyone doing his or her fair share and no one misusing his or her “strengths” to oppress others.

Prayer: God of Justice and Mercy, grant us the strength and courage to love rather than to oppress, to prevent oppression, and to welcome the restored. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Fear

Living in the Spirit
July 23, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Psalm 128 

Happy is everyone who fears the Lord,
   who walks in his ways.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
   you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. —Psalm 128:1-2

Fear is an interesting emotional state. It can freeze us into inaction or give us the extra adrenaline to do things we never thought we could. Merriam-Webster Dictionary* list several definitions. Let’s look closer at three of them:

  1. agitated foreboding often of some real or specific peril
  2. calm recognition or consideration of whatever may injure or damage
  3. profound reverence and awe

I am somewhat claustrophobic. I never intend to ever have another MRI in one of those closed tube things again. The open sided MRIs were invented for me. Claustrophobia is an irrational fear, not based in reality, and taken to an extreme can be debilitating. I have “talked” myself out of being controlled by the fear when needed in some situations. I think that may be what is meant by the calm recognition or consideration of whatever may injure or damage.  I have also found that by facing the fear over time it has lessened in intensity. I overpower the fear when my need to not let it control me is greater than its control of me.

A lot of fear is not irrational. Soldiers going into battle, fire fighters searching burning structures, and parents trying to dislodge whatever is choking their baby are experiencing real fear. In each situation they have chosen to turn their fear into a tool for the survival of others without concern for their personal safety.

The fear of God encompasses both of these traits. The all-powerful, ever present God is the source of our strength in overcoming irrational fears and the source of our bravery when protecting others. We are privileged to experience flashes of the wonders of God in bits and pieces of our lives. It is almost impossible to comprehend the full force of God’s power and might, but that awe is the only fear we really need.

Prayer: Almighty and Ever-present God, thank you for gracing us with your gifts of strength and bravery. May we use them wisely. Amen.

* http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/fear

 

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.