The Bible is full of paradoxes.
“To be first you must become last.”
“Love your enemies. Pray for those who use you.”
“To become great you must be the servant of all.”
“To become strong you must become weak.”
One of the hardest things for people to understand is that latter one. How in the world can a person become strong by becoming weak? Such a strange paradox. Hudson Taylor put it another way:
All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on God being with them.
That flies in the face of our modern-day thinking. It flew in the face of thinking in Jesus’ day. I’m sure the Romans who heard that must have thought He was off His rocker. Life and success was defined by strength. So to hear becoming weak makes a person strong “does not compute!”
Slaying giants is big stuff. “March Madness” usually includes a Cinderella team. They are often called “Giant Slayers” because they bring the bigger teams to their knees.
God often puts us in the position of being giant slayers. That entails a willingness to be used by Him. Bobby put it well: “The weaker we become, the greater God’s power is released in our lives.” (p.142) We don’t have to lose. We don’t have to be seen as losers. The weak become strong!
That is a paradox worth knowing!
You certainly give hope to low achievers.
Not sure if this is a compliment or not but that’s okay. I accept. 🙂
“Because they reckoned on God being with them” — what a great clause by Hudson. Yes, I love this.
Enjoy this week,
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
Curious phrase but I totally agree Jennifer. Thanks.
There are times that I have been seen as weak in the eyes of others, but I know my choices pleased my God and I did not feel even one iota of an urge to try to explain myself.
And THAT is the way it should be! Way to go Daniel!
Amen, Bill. Pride is useless to God… but humility unleashes His will upon this planet.
Those that can’t grasp the paradox and wisdom in the Word is because they can only see the limited power within their flesh.
Praying for the lost and for humility in His church.
pride is an ugly thing for sure Floyd. Lives are not changed by it but (as you state) by humility. Thanks for dropping by.
Man, there are so many areas in which I would love to be strong. It’s hard to embrace weakness. We’re trained to minimize it and try to eradicate it. To see it as a gift that God uses for His glory–how awesome it that? Good thoughts, Bill. Thank you.
That is why Jesus’ talk about humility is so tough to accept. I’m with you though using it for His glory.