A little something different for this post. I found this in my reading and thought it was so good that I would share it with you. It was written by the late A.W.Tozer and had the heading “A Real Christian is an ODD NUMBER, Anyway.” I am not sure if Tozer himself called it that or the writers.
He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen;
Talks familiarly everyday to someone he cannot see;
Expects to go to heaven on the virtue of another;
Empties himself in order to be full;
Admits he is wrong so he can be declared right;
Goes down in order to get up;
Is strongest when is weakest;
Richest when he is poorest;
Happiest when he feels the worst;
He dies so he can live;
Forsakes in order to have;
Gives away so he can keep;
Sees the invisible;
Hears the inaudible;
And knows what which passes knowledge.
The Christian walk is so contrary to the way of the world. I remember several years ago reading a book by Bill Hybels called Descending Into Greatness. It was about humility. “To gain your life you must lose it” is one of the ways Jesus put it. Plain and simple: we live a life of paradox.
I have a challenge for you today, actually two. First, can you think of any other paradoxes in the Scriptures? Second, can you give an example-either from your own life or of someone else-who shows the same type of paradox Tozer is writing about? I hope to hear from you.
I’m going to be writing about one tomorrow. Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Contrasted with Luke 9:23 “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Looking forward to it Tony. 37:5 is my favorite verse.
Tony,
I am breathless in anticipation. I shall be most curious to see your take on this often misunderstood Scripture.
Go get ’em, brother!
“Mar 9:35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
That is a good one Susan. Thanks.
Love this, Bill. We get to go against the flow and current of the systems of this world. Great reminder. Thank you.
Good way to put it Jason. We “get to go” makes it sound like it is a great choice we make (and it is). Thanks for the thought.
Tony beat me to the punch…Psalm 37:4 popped into my head when I read your question.
Great minds must think alike right? Thanks Jason.
Funny the ones that popped into my head were already used. Susan beat me to Mark 9:35 and Tony beat me to Psalm 37:4.
I must say I am a real fan of Tozer’s writings.
Good thought Bill.
Late to the party Jim but better late than never. 🙂 Thanks anyway for the comment.
We believe the unbelievable.
We believe what we have not seen.
Very true. Thanks for the “entry.” 🙂
Oh and an example would be from when He tells us to bring the whole tithe…test Him…I cannot tell you how many times we’ve done this and wondered how we were going to pay for our bills, but He provided for them as well.
Like your first entry Michael. We have to do that. No, we need to do that. As for the latter: we have been in the same situation. God has always come through. Thanks.
“whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Mat. 16:25
As for personal example: there has been times when I am at my weakest… and yet, it has proven to me that I’m actually at my strongest. Hard to explain, but sort of like “let the weakest say I am strong” type of paradox.
Jesus was a master at the paradox of challenge. That one sticks out to me Moe. I, too, have found that the weak to strong is true. Thanks Moe for the input.
My life verse and you quoted it yesterday is Galations 2:20. I must die so I may live.
Serve in order to lead. And I try to do this (and fail and rely on grace again and again).
These paradoxes are another proof that God’s got a sense of humor (albeit sometimes it’s hard to understand it)…
I was thinking about Peter Pollock’s Blog Carnival dedicated to Sacrifice in relation to your post…
“He dies so he can live;
Forsakes in order to have;
Gives away so he can keep;”
Amazing… to the world it seems strange, but it is true…
Also, something that I realized yesterday (it was one of those “duh” moments) – God never asks us to give up something of TRUE value. He only asks us to surrender to Him what WE think is valuable so that our hands will be free to receive from Him what HE thinks is valuable.
Thanks for sharing those, Bill. Great post.
WOW Zee! I love your comment. I like the quote from Peter’s carnival. But I really like what you have learned. that is cool but most of all is so true. Thanks for the great input.
Actually, the quote was yours 🙂 The reason I mentioned Peter Pollock’s blog carnival is because when I initially sat down to write for that carnival, I was thinking about your blog post 🙂 (But then stumbled upon another one and wrote about that theme…) Probably will finish yesterday’s draft today.
BTW – here’s the link to PP’s blog -http://peterpollock.com/2011/02/sacrifice-blog-carnival 🙂
Gotcha! Will check out Peter’s carnival. Thanks.
that was a great poem – thanks for posting it!