Show Off

by ricks 22. March 2010 23:37
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Following Christ is about showing off God's power through our lives. The apostle Paul did this by how he preached (1 Corinthians 2:4-5), how he endured hardship (2 Corinthians 4:7-11); and how he responded to his "thorn in the flesh" -- a matter that he asked the Lord to take away three times and the Lord said "No" three times (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). The Lord promised him that his grace would be sufficient; that there would be strength for his weakness. Paul concludes, "When I am weak, then I am strong." That's curious. We are strong when we are weak. Why? That's when the Lord's power shows through us.

Do you realize how this redefines everything? Pick whatever illness -- cancer, diabetes, appendecitis, anything -- all our bodily weakness is our opportunity to show off God's power. Pick your temptation -- anger, worry, lust, pride, jealousy, anything -- all our fleshly lusts become our opportunity to show off God's power through the Holy Spirit working through us (Romans 8:12-13). Pick your career -- business, law, government, services, education -- it's all our opportunity to show off God's power working through us. Pick your family role -- child, parent, sibling, cousin, anything -- it's our opportunity to show off God's power working through us (1 Corinthians 13).

So here's your opportunity to "show off" God's power. What's he been doing in your life?

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Engage the Cross

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5/20/2012 9:18:47 AM #

This isn't really my story, but thoughts I have heard and had myself.
A friend of mine (Hunter) recently shared his own testimony to me of his trials in high school of getting a concussion playing basketball and ending up having to drop out of school for a year and a half. Hunter talked about how he felt like there was no end in sight and had to... See More draw closer to God through the experience. He is now an RA at Gordon College. During the course of the year, there were several major illnesses and medical emergencies on his floor, including a student being paralyzed from falling out of a tree, a collapsed lung, and cancer among others. From this, and another illness that beset him, he was able to relate well with his floor. They grew much stronger in their walk with Christ as a result of these trials, having to rely on him. Through these trials, they all grew much closer and deeper together and with God. God answered all of their prayers and cured each one in turn, sometimes against all odds. He made the odd remark that in easier times he seems to feel him less and he has felt the closest to God at the darkest times in his life and his friends.  Hunter has been able to share his testimony (much shortened here) to hundreds and even thousands of people as a result of the trials that he couldn't understand at the time.
I have felt this in my own life as well, that God has been refining me and showing his strength in my own weaknesses and trials. God is a faithful God who is always there for those that seek him.

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5/20/2012 9:18:47 AM #

Exactly, Erik! Thanks for that story. Check out 2 Corinthians 1:3-11. Praying for you, too.

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