Power perfected in weakness

I like being in control. I like having leverage. I like knowing that I am operating from a position of strength. So whether I am about to tackle a project or solve a problem, I am heartened when my strength audit shows a positive balance.

But is this kind of strength mindset a strength? What is one to do when one's strength balance is in the red? And is it not often the case that life throws us situations that are totally beyond our control and far beyond any ability we might have to deal with them. Should the husband of the cancer sufferer, for example, give up when his wife's medical aid cover runs out? Should I shy away from obedience to God because it requires risk?

As Christians in Zimbabwe, we have become accustomed to comfort and influence. When I - as a pastor - visit the local police station, I am treated with respect. Would that be the case in China? Further, I pastor a wealthy church (by Zimbabwean and indeed world standards). I cannot remember an occasion in the last ten years when I have experienced serious persecution, hunger or cold. Perhaps this has contributed to a "strength" mindset, making it difficult for me to deal with situations that put me in a weak position.

I think that we need to begin crucifying our dependence on strength. When God calls you to do something of value, He will put you in a place of weakness so that together you may work in the realm of His power. Then God will be glorified by your success because it will be evident to all that you could never have pulled it off alone.

If you have some doubts about this approach to life and ministry, read Paul's defence against the so called "super-apostles" in 2 Corinthians 10-12:10.

Paul's entire ministry was conducted from a place of weakness. He appeared timid (10:1), unimpressive (v10) and unable to speak well (v11). Paul was defenceless against the weather, nature, poverty, Jews, Gentiles, bandits, and even false Christians, with the result that he experienced lashings, beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, hunger, nakedness, stress and sleepless nights (11:23-28).

"Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?" Paul asks (11:29). Indeed, who is? Paul had few or no defences.

But as if this is not enough evidence of weakness, Paul goes on to describe how he had to escape from Damascus in a basket (11:30-33), then he turns to what seems to have been his ultimate humiliation: a "thorn in the flesh" which tormented him, and which he begged God  to remove on three occasions (12:7-8).

However, what is Paul's conclusion on the subject of weakness? Having heard from God that, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness", Paul concludes: "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 persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong".

"Boast", "gladly" and "delight" - are these the kind of words we usually use in the same context as weaknesses, insults, persecutions and difficulties? Perhaps they should be.

If you are facing difficulties or God is asking you to take a risk, do not be daunted if your strength balance is in the red. When circumstances are beyond your resources, God's supplies will make up the difference. When you are weak, God's power will rest on you, and then you will be strong. God's power is made perfect in weakness!

Opportunities

Yesterday on my way back from running at Gateway School, I drove past somebody I know from the local neighbourhood watch. For the sake of this account, I will call him Henry. Henry was walking down the road looking disconsolate with his shoulders slumped and head hanging. Then today, I encountered Henry walking with his wife and three kids past the entrance to my driveway.

Why was Henry taking his family for a walk at nine in the morning? Why wasn’t he at work, I wondered? Was all this a coincidence? So I got out of my car for a chat.
Business was not going well. Enterprises that had worked in the past were no longer putting food on the table let alone paying school fees. It seemed that George was on the back foot trying to start a business with good potential but without capital.

“There is a credit shortage,” he explained, rubbing thumb and forefinger together. “No one can give us a loan”.
I empathised, trying to understand his situation. After a while, it became clear that I should offer to pray. At first Henry didn’t understand my offer; then it struck home, and his face was transformed by a broad smile.

“Yes! Yes please. Fiona, this man wants to pray for us. Come! Come over here.”

So we prayed by the side of the road, and when I opened my eyes again, I saw that Fiona was crying. They were very grateful, and I invited them to Harvest this Sunday.

I wonder what God will choose to do with this small act of obedience? Two Sundays ago at Harvest, we prayed that God would give us opportunities to take the gospel to non-believers. We felt that it was time to pray for miracles where they are really needed: in the work place and in our neighbourhoods. Most of the miracles recorded in the NT were used by God to draw non-believers into the Kingdom of God. Yet we seldom pray for non-believers, praying in church for Christians only.

I hope that God will do a miracle for Henry and Fiona. Perhaps a taste of God’s grace in the form of a miraculous loan will point them to the grace that is available for eternal life. Anyway, God knows. He presented me with the opportunity, I was obedient and the rest is up to Him. I wonder what will happen next.

Cheers for now - Ian

Aiming for perfection but expecting growth

Have you ever behaved in a way that leaves an after-taste of embarrassment and shame? I have in mind an incident from last week. On this particular occasion, I was on the offensive over a game of scrabble that I wasn’t even playing...  Can you believe it? The frustrating thing was that the target of my vitriolic attack graciously refused to argue, leaving me to rev in neutral for a few minutes. It was jolly indecent of him!

Jesus said that the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart (Mat 12:34). Why, I wondered, was there so much aggression and frustration in my heart? It’s a good question, and I do have some answers. But knowing the answers is only part of the process of changing. Truth is we all have experiences that remind us we haven’t arrived yet. We aim for the perfection of Christ, but we fall short of it on a daily basis.

Over the years, I have spent time reflecting on how to handle the fallout from such incidents.  To be honest, I provide myself with lots of material to work on! I can tell you right now that self-flagellation (speaking metaphorically of course!) does not work. But there are some things that do work, the foremost of which is asking God for forgiveness. Yet I often punish myself first, turning to grace as a last resort. Why do we believe that a hefty dose of self derision will pay the price for our sins and put things right?

Then there is the matter of apologising to the person I have wronged. But I have discovered that whilst this is often necessary, many incidents of failure are far more obvious to me than others. If my sin against somebody is evident only to me, perhaps it will cause hurt or at the least mild perplexity if I approach that person for forgiveness.

Often, by the time I have decided that an apology is in order, and I have gathered up my courage to give one, the offended person has chosen to overlook the offence and has moved on. I hope that I am learning to extend grace and forgiveness in a similar way. Nevertheless, it is good to apologise as soon as one can. However, all of this assumes that we know when we have hurt someone.  But I wonder how often we wound people without even realising it.

In reality, perfection is impossible. With the best will in the world, we will continue to make mistakes until the day we die. And this brings me to the comforting thought that God does not expect perfection, just growth. Actually, in a legal sense, you have been declared perfect if you are in Christ. And God will forgive you for every sin if you ask him. Yet the fruit of being in Christ is growth. And if you cast your eyes back a year or two, you will realise that you are growing.

So when you fail, ask God for forgiveness, apologise when appropriate and then encourage yourself with the following quote by Joyce Meyers:  “I’m not where I need to be, but thank God I’m not where I used to be. I’m ok and I’m on my way”.

Cheers for now - Ian

Gladness in the shadow of execution

Reading: Philippians 1:18b-20

If you were in prison waiting to see whether your impending trial would result in execution, what would you be obsessing about? Personally, I would be preoccupied with the trial and my defence.  Indeed, thoughts about my defence would be the tip of the ice berg in a very turbulent sea of emotions. And in such circumstances, nobody would be too surprised if one were in turmoil. But if one claimed to be awash with feelings of gladness and delight, the lawyers would be looking no further for a line of defence! “This guy is mad,” they would exclaim, “let’s claim insanity”.

Yet Paul, though facing the very real possibility of an imminent execution, was rejoicing. Why was Paul rejoicing? Well, Paul was preoccupied with something that he gave precedence over his defence: whether he would be able to glorify God right to the end or not. To declare the fame of God was Paul’s “earnest expectation and hope” (v20). Paul did not want to be “put to shame in anything” (v20), for that would have tarnished the reputation of the God he represented. No, Paul wanted Christ be “exalted in [his] body, whether by life or death” (v20)?

Paul’s example reminds us that there is a close link between joy and a passion for God’s glory. If I am consumed by self-interest, I will be miserable. But if I live for the renown of God, my heart will burn with an unquenchable gladness.

Cheers for now - Ian