My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. II Corinthians 12:9-10
Thankful
That is the word that describes my heart this week.
I’ve been reading through the book Twelve Ordinary Men as well as studying the Gospels. As I’ve been reading and studying about the disciples, the idea of really how ordinary these 12 men were has made quite an impression on me.
See the Pharisees and leaders of Jesus’ time were good people. They followed all the laws. They knew all the right people. They did what their parents told them. Growing up, they were probably the teacher’s pets because, externally, they were perfect. Culturally, they did everything right. Their “perfectness” is what kept them from “seeing” the Messiah.
The disciples were different. Before Jesus called them, they weren’t anything special. They had little faith, were low-class, rural, and uneducated people. Basically, they were unworthy and unqualified.
So now let’s get to the whole Thankful part of this post
In high school, I spent 3 years of my life in rebellion. I spent most of my life before that battling huge character flaws that anyone who knew me as a child still like to remind me of frequently. The kind of flaw you can never run away from. It was too significant to erase from people’s memory =). So in my journey with Christ, my spiritual warfare often occurs in the battle with feeling like I’m one step away from returning to the rebellious flawed teenager I once was.
This week, Jesus has clearly shown me that feeling like I’m one step away is what makes me useful to him.
The Pharisees didn’t need Jesus. Their life was and always had been neatly controlled. Jesus caused chaos for their “perfect” life so they ran from him.
Now the disciples needed Jesus. They had no power and no authority in and of themselves. In fact, they were also one step away from falling back into their old lifestyle which is why they became so influential. They walked under the power of Christ because they knew they could not rely on themselves. Their “past” kept them dependent on Jesus. That dependence allowed them to become apostles and take the message of the Kingdom of God to the ends of the earth.
So I’m thankful. I’m thankful I’m more like the disciples than like the Pharisees. I have more that reminds me daily of my need for a Savior. My life is not perfect and so whatever is done through me is clearly done by the power of the Holy Spirit. This week, I have found pure joy in my weaknesses understanding in a whole new way II Corinthians 12.
Thank goodness I was a messed up kid who still battles sin daily. Keep me weak Father so that you can be glorified in me. Amen.
