Blog
Against All Intuition
The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. (1 Sam 2:4)
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. (Prov 11:24)
One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. (Prov 29:23)
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. (Isa 40:29)
Thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is exalted. (Ezek 21:26)
So the last will be first, and the first last. (Matt 20:16)
Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained it--the righteousness that is by faith. (Rom 9:30)
For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor 12:10)
Sharing Christ with Nominal Family Members
Lovely counsel here from our brother Chris Castaldo, via the Billy Graham Center.
God's Work Begins When Ours Ends
Jack Miller, writing in 1987 to a fellow pastor under criticism--
God's work begins when ours comes to its end.--Barbara Miller Juliani, ed., The Heart of a Servant Leader: Letters from Jack Miller (P&R, 2004), 200-201
Sometimes His presence is not felt with power through our methods however useful they may be, especially when we are confident we have the right approach and insights. God has a way of wanting to be God and refusing to get too involved where we have our own wisdom and strength. Then when we run out of wisdom and strength, He is suddenly present, a lesson I find myself relearning practically every day that I am in my right mind. (On my crazy days I am not ready to learn much!)
I think He wants our confidence to be exclusively in Him, and when we lose our self-confidence then He moves in to show what He can do. Perhaps self-dependence--and forgetting the strength to be found in Christ-dependence--is always our biggest blind spot. There is also presumption and pride that go with self-reliance.
So let's not lose our trust in God and the power of His gospel and the spirit of praise which goes with its proclamation (Rom 15:13; 1 Cor 1:18, 22-25; Gal 6:14).