THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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The late Adrian Rogers, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and pastor of Belleview Baptist in Memphis, told a cute story about a man and his sons.
He said the man was always making his sons work hard. They were always out in the corn fields while their friends were spending the afternoons at the swimming hole.
One man approached the father and chided, "Why do you make those boys work so hard, you don't need all that corn?"
The father answered, "Sir. I'm not raising corn. I'm raising boys!"
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2 Cor 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
KJV
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One of the hardest things we humans have to learn in our walk with God is the simple lesson of the song "Jesus Loves Me." One line of that song says,
"Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak but He is strong."
His strength is most often shown in our weakness. If we would work well, and for His Name's sake, we must have a sense of our own weakness. We simply should acknowledge our weakness before God, and request His power to work in and through us.
We are weak because we are sinners, and our sin shows to others around us. It is impossible for one person to convince another of sin and the need to surrender to Christ without God's help. God tells us it is "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit , saith the LORD of hosts." (Zech 4:6)
To think that we can be successful on our own in God's work is to deny the power of God working in our lives. For God says He "resisteth the proud; but giveth grace unto the humble." (James 4:6)
We must empty ourselves of vanity in order for the power of God's Holy Spirit to begin His work in us. And we must continue in that manner in order for His power to grow in our efforts for His glory.
Do not cry because of your weakness. Instead, acknowledge it before God and ask for His Spirit to give you strength. His "grace is sufficient for thee!" And His "strength is made perfect in (our) weakness!"
Love ya,
Bruce