Our Weakness Is The Door To Being Used

I want to post this here to set the tone of this blog should anyone stop by before I can get to the main point of all of this:

For now, I'll share this--which I found on another website..

This is a theme through the Bible,

2 Corinthians 12:9: He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong. WEB

1 Corinthians 1:27: but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; 28 and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are: 29 that no flesh should boast before God. WEB

There is a contrast, like in society it may be the strong man who can drive the fastest, but is it not stronger to resist the urge and drive safely? In society a wise man could be one that knows how to make a lot of money, but is it not wiser to learn how to communicate with the God that knows how to create the world?

This all requires a way of thinking that is different to the natural. It is a way of thinking that requires giving up a measure of individual control and instead joining into a team, the team led by God. It is a challenging task because it means a loss of pride among mainstream society, but it also makes life easier, because we have a strong boss to look after us and show us the wise thing to do.

But one other aspect of the weakness following God is that it really is just a weakness for a time. Jesus knew that his crucifixion and death weren't the end of the matter. He knew that with patience the strength of God would be shown physically to defeat the enemies. The time hasn't yet been right for it, but the believers in God know that the day will come when the strength of God will be known by all.

Of a future day it is said,

Joel 3:9: Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare war. Stir up the mighty men. Let all the warriors draw near. Let them come up. 10 Beat your plowshares into swords, And your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, "I am strong." WEB

Strength is shown in patience. Those that weaken themselves to be part of the strongest team are the weak who are stronger than the strong.
-from biblefocus.net

I have much to say about what is above, but it will have to wait for another day.

Stronger Than Before

In Christ, we can be *stronger than before, but still very aware of great
weakness, of whatever sort it may be.

*(I'm remembering this old album titled, Stronger Than Before; I just checked and it's still available.)


Alright, back to what I was saying... No matter how far any of us may have strayed from God's truth and wholeness there is always a way home.

It will often take brutal honestly and most always the help of
trustworthy brothers and sisters, but God "will make a way where there
is no way."

Rumi, in his poem Sublime Generosity says,"You make my raggedness
silky..." To me that's a great word-picture of how our brokenness can
be touched by grace.

In fact, here's more of the poem. It's one of my favorites as it relates to strength and weakness.

Sublime Generosity

I was dead, then alive.
Weeping, then laughter.

The power of love came into me,
and I became fierce like a lion,
then tender like the evening star.
He said,"You are not mad enough.
You don't belong in this house."
I went wild and had to be tied up.
He said,"Still not wild enough to stay with us!
I broke through another layer into joyfulness.
He said, "It's not enough."
I died.
...He said,"You already have wings.
I cannot give you wings."
But I wanted his wings.
I felt like some flightless chicken.
Then new events said to me,
"Don't move. A sublime genorosity is coming toward you."
"And old love said, "Stay with me."
I said, "I will"
You are the fountain of the sun's light.
I am willow shadow on the ground.
You make my raggedness silky...

Brokenness

Well, it's like this-- for so many of us, and especially those in the Church--we have found it necessary to hide our weakness as though it was something to be ashamed of-- or that weakness in itself was sinful. I'm not talking about acting or weakness or temptation, but the very fact that it exists can make some run from, rather than to Jesus.

Brokenness

Most of us are a combination of incalcuable contradictions.

Yet still we are somehow mysteriously integrated into the grace of divine inheritance. By the transforming power of love we are brought into the fullness of who we are. Even though often filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory, and while finding serenity in thisquite real, we are at other times grasped by passions and temptations, beyond our understanding and ability to control in our own strength.

We struggle for the divine reality of the Presence of Jesus at times and in our struggling for the divine breath of God we are frazzled, fearful, and feel all alone.

That must change.

That is the reason for this blog site--to explore the dimensions of weakness and how it is the doorway to God's grace, strength and even his mighty power being released in us and even through us.