Strong People in Harness

Now, we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.

Each one of us must please his neighbour for his good, to build him up. For even the Messiah did not please Himself. On the contrary, as it is written, 'The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.' Romans 15:1-3

Our society lives with the rule: I do what pleases me, the weak I tred on.

However, here we are challenged in our strength, ot bear with the weaknesses of our brethren. To do so would require humility. It is better we humble ourselves than have the Lord humble us.

What is strength? Is it arrogant pride and self-confidence? Or is it humility? What is humility? I say it is strength contained. I am not humble when I am beaten, yes the experience can humble me. But in that breaking period I am not able to help others in humility unless I forsake self-pity.

Moses was raised in a king's court, yet he knew he was a Jew and grieved for them. He handled his grief wrongly and became so angry he killed a man, and then fled. He was in exile for 40 years.

Today I saw on the news an 81 year old man given a 24 year jail term for killing a man. He will die in prison. Moses was given a 40 year exile term for killing a man, in the backside of the desert. When God called him out of exile, he was given charge of a few million Jews. They drove him to distraction. In his anger he struck a rock when God told him to speak to it and when he came down from the mountain and saw the golden calf, he ground it up, threw it on water and made the people drink it, you might say he was one angry man. Yet, scripture calls him a humble man. He rightly said to God: 'I will not go up unless you come with me.' Strong people need God more than ever so that they will not kill their charges, but lead with humility.

Grace needs a home in our hearts. Grace will hold it all together. Amen!