Weakness

“That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I do not like being weak. I do not enjoy finding sin in my life,  realising I am not my own saviour, am flawed and without Christ I am lost. However, I would not be without Christ, I have to learn that when I feel as though I have failed Him and others, I have His grace and mercy to run to. The battle between self and the new me is constant. The new is winning more these days, praise God.

The Lord told Paul He was best in Paul when Paul was weak:

“Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul was above referring to a ‘thorn in the flesh’. We are not told what it was, suffice to say it kept Paul humble.

I grew up in a works based religion and it is hard to shake off, especially when I do not see its insidious tentacles. Through God’s grace He is setting me free. Amen!

Surrender

“Laying your life down in tender surrender before the Lord will bring life, prosperity, and honor as your reward.”Proverbs‬ ‭22‬:‭4‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Tender surrender sounds like a loving response; a willing response; not a compelled response. Jesus said, “Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭20‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Jesus was referring to Himself who was the cornerstone.

It is better to yield and be broken than to reject and be crushed. We are on this earth to walk in communion with Jesus and see His kingdom come, there is no other reason. Believing we are here to build our own kingdom is foolish at best and destructive at worst. This is a sharp rebuke to our pride. However, we must ask ‘where did this pride come from?’ Satan’s problem was he was filled with self-love and pride, then he fell. He would love company.

When in conflict it is not about what we will show another person, rather what would Jesus have us do? How can we pray for that person, how can we see them released into God’s best?

Jesus said, ‘love one another as I have loved you’(Jn 13:34).

Understanding others

“You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others.”Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭TPT‬‬

One of our greatest challenges is understanding others: why do they behave like they do; what drives them; why are they so different? I live with two Nepali ladies and you might say we are ‘chalk and cheese’. My constant battle is to understand these ladies and not judge them for their differences, as I am sure they share this problem from their perspective.

Open my eyes Lord and help me grow in grace. Grace will allow me to see, accept and release. 

Last night my housemates invited me to dine with them. They made fresh momos. I discovered the elder had had her birthday whilst I was away in Mugu, I therefore presented her with her gift, praying that she would accept it in good faith. It turns out the Lord knew the best gift to give, and when I bought it back in Australia He was all over it. I bought studs and rings for her nose, as all Nepalis wear them and the girls had lost theirs. The surprising thing was they still went into a hole that had lay dormant for 20 years.

I cannot assume my ways are better, I cannot judge the customs of others, I can only love and reach out in grace. Amen!

Stay true

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, I’d like to give one final word of caution: Watch out for those who cause divisions and offenses among you. When they antagonize you by speaking of things that are contrary to the teachings that you’ve received, don’t be caught in their snare!”Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭17‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Satan uses people to cause division and offence. However, if we have determined in our hearts not to listen to gossip, it is hard to become snared. We become a tool in Satan’s hand when we ourselves are offended and rather than go to the person who offends us we talk about them. Much rather that we obey Jesus’ instructions and speak to the one who offends us.

Pride is another cause for gossip. If we think more highly of ourselves then we boast and demean others. Pride is Satan’s tool. He fell because of pride and would have us fall also. Rather we should hear this scripture:

“God has given me grace to speak a warning about pride. I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem.”Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Even our faith is a gift from God. Without it we are nothing and doomed to hellfire like all the lost. Let us estimate ourselves wisely and refrain from arrogance and pride. 

Hold true to the full gospel. Do not listen to those who remove the parts that convict or offend them. Amen!

Building up

“We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.”Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭2‬, ‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

  Building each other up requires intentionality, eyes that observes and see, ears that hear. If we are too busy with our own agenda we fail to see and hear and miss opportunities to bless.

Jesus saw and heard. We are His hands and feet now. Accepting others was something He did well. No one was made feel less than anyone else, even the worst sinners. The demoniac was set free for a purpose- to evangelise his area, the woman caught in adultery was forgiven and told to sin no more. However, she was not made to feel a less than, Jesus made a point of disclosing the sinfulness of all who accused her, she was not less than any of them.

Our role is not to judge and condemn, our role is to honour and lift up. Our God is the judge, we are not. What is He saying and doing today? It is liberating to be free to love as He loved! Amen!

Maturity

“Now, those who are mature in their faith can easily be recognized, for they don’t live to please themselves but have learned to patiently embrace others in their immaturity. Our goal must be to empower others to do what is right and good for them, and to bring them into spiritual maturity.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭TPT‬‬

This morning I am challenged to be mature in faith. Before I returned to Nepal from Australia I was compelled to buy health insurance by my children. I believed that I had in place a plan, which was a small savings fund to cover such emergencies, as medical costs in Nepal are much cheaper than in Australia. I was told, “we’ll help you if we can but right now we don’t have funds.” I paid for the insurance on my credit card and am paying it off. Nothing has come from family. Today I find two members of my family wanting help with the cost of going on a boot camp with Cfan. You can imagine my initial reaction. However, reading this passage compels me to go to the Lord for His answer.

Reactions are not a kingdom attribute unless it is a reaction in response to the moving of God. A godly response is a benefit to both myself and others, it brings blessing. A fleshly response is nasty and an act of vengeance. I am determined to live out of life and not death. By living out of life I help others less mature than myself. Amen!

Bought

“No one lives to himself and no one dies to himself. While we live, we must live for our Master, and in death we must bring honor to him. So dead or alive we belong to our Master.”Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Even though we accept Jesus as saviour we may fail to realise we are no longer in charge. Paul explains it here:

“Have you forgotten that your body is now the sacred temple of the Spirit of Holiness, who lives in you? You don’t belong to yourself any longer, for the gift of God, the Holy Spirit, lives inside your sanctuary. You were God’s expensive purchase, paid for with tears of blood, so by all means, then, use your body to bring glory to God!”1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭TPT‬‬

We no longer rule. Why would we want to? Is our way higher than His way? Our thoughts higher than His? No! The opposite is true:

“For my thoughts about mercy are not like your thoughts, and my ways are different from yours. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so my ways and my thoughts are higher than yours.”Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Can we not trust Him? Is He not faithful? Yes!!! Surrender today! Amen!

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