I overslept so we will plan to do chapter 3, "Stringing Pearls" in Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith, by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg, next Wednesday. Read the chapter work through the questions following it. Like the book the chapter is most helpful for us to better understand what Scripture says.
When we feel weakness this can be a precursor to God's blessing. When we are weak we can identify better, and more closely with other fellow human beings, just as Hebrews points out about the priests in the old covenant, but even our Great High Priest in the new covenant, Jesus.
Feeling weakness in whatever way can also help us be more dependent on God and rightly interdependent on each other in Jesus. We know that we can't make it without him, so we cry out to him in faith, and look to him for the help that he alone can give to us. And we also look to others to pray for us, or offer any words of encouragement and insight they might have from God.
I have seen God's blessing come through either into my life, or through what I had to do into the lives of others, in the midst of my weakness. In answer to prayer the Lord makes his power known in our weaknesses.
This is part of our walk by faith and by the Spirit here. I find that I distrust myself more and more as I get older. Because I know God's blessing comes from God, not from me. And even when we not only are weak but look weak, God's power through Jesus by the Spirit can, and often will come forth.
What have you found about this in your own life?
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7 comments:
Over the past couple of years with my health, loss of income and job status, moving twice, rocky marriage, desolved relationship that I thought would last a lifetime, and battles with depression I have come to believe and truly understnad what the apostle Paul says, "When I am weak, then I am strong." Despite all the trials and suffering I have come to understand that his grace is sufficent and that God gives us the strength we need when we are at our weakest. When we are hanging on by a thread God gives us just enough grace and faith to hang on and endure. Weakness can be good. In my weakness I have seen him working as some of my health problems have changed for the better, I am not headed towards divorce anymore, I am developing new relationships, he has blessed our family with a new home, and depression seems to be doing better as well. I am thankful for the wekanesses that I have had over the past several years because I know I am stronger and a better man of God because of it. Thanks for this post Ted. I hope you have a wonderful day.
Kinney,
Thanks for sharing. So sorry for the rough spot you and yours hit. Good to read that things are better.
Yes, our weakness can be God's opportunity to work in and through our lives. I certainly know that firsthand.
Thanks Ted and Preacherman,
I think we do become more conscious of our blessings when things are not going well.
Preacherman, I read your responses on Jesus Creed, but I didn't know you had struggles--I am glad that things are working out better for you and that you have become a better servant of God. It's a testimony.
i am glad that you are doing chapter three next week, because i got behind on my reading.
you bring up some good points about weekness. a lot to chew on.
Diane,
Thanks.
Your thought reminds me of how we often don't really appreciate what we have until it's gone. Or how we take so much of life for granted.
We do need to know and acknowledge our lack, seems something that is a theme over and over in Scripture. Only then does God fill us with his bounty and goodness.
nAncY,
Thanks. Yes, that's another good chapter. They bring out well helpful matters for us to learn in our Bible study and reading.
Hi friends. How are you all. I hope you all will be fine.We try to be like those we admire. In doing so, we often copy the side-effects of success, not their cause. Pretending to be powerful, we ignore the strengths of being weak.
Young and broke? You can pour in more time and hours, for less pay. Those with families to feed and expectations of earnings won’t take the same risks.
Inexperienced? You can learn without preconceptions. Those who have won their wars, stick to old battle tactics.
Unknown? You can reply to everyone who reaches you. Follow up every lead. Respond to every request with a smile. Those with more fame must put up barriers between the people they rely on. You can tear those down.
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