The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Strong In Him. Weak In Him."
We must "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" because we are "weak in Him" (Ephesians 6:10; II Corinthians 13;4).
This may seem contradictory upon first consideration. It is not, of course, but rather speaks to the only proper relationship creatures can have with an infinite, eternal Creator. All power and ability to perform lies in the God who made and sustains all things. "Of Him and through Him and to Him are all things" (Romans 11:36). In creating other conscious beings, He could not make other inherently strong "gods" because such entities would not share the necessary characteristics of divinity. By definition, created beings do not meet the tests of godhood (eternality from everlasting; independent ability to exist; innate power to act; et al). Thus, all creation exists as the supplicant to God's supply, serving as the scene of His infinite ability, but completely dependent on Him for the administration of all doings.
"Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?" (Proverbs 20:24).
"Strong in Him… weak in Him" explains much of the believer's walk with the Lord, particularly regarding our present existence in a fallen world. Why in times when we may feel most attuned to God spiritually do we sometimes inexcusably fall and fail Him so miserably? Why in times when we may feel the weakest and most distant from Him does He lead us to experience the wonder of "My strength is made perfect in weakness?" (II Corinthians 12:9).
The answer lies in the fact of strength and weakness concurrently existing in us. The Holy Spirit dwells within our spirits, revealing "Christ, the power of God" as the enlivening and enabling Life of our lives. Conversely, a "law of sin" dwells in our flesh, along with the damaging effects of sin in our humanity inherited from Adam (Romans 7:22-25). "Christ liveth in me… in my flesh dwelleth no good thing" confessed the Apostle Paul of the "strong in Him… weak in Him" dichotomy characteristic of every believer in the Lord Jesus (Galatians 2:20; Romans 7:18). Thus, on our best days, we can act the worst, and on our worst days, we can act the best because none of us perfectly understand or adapt ourselves to the challenge of the two streams of reality - strength and weakness - that flow within us. "When I am weak, then am I am strong" declared Paul in as true a statement as ever uttered by a human mind, but which in this life will always present profound challenge in our response (II Corinthians 12:10).
Should we feel strong in the Lord in any given moment, let us rejoice that the power to do lies within us. However, let us also affirm that such enabling moves within our innate weakness as "every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus" (Philemon 1:6; emphasis added). Should we feel weak, let us acknowledge that such is in fact the case - "without Me, ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). Let us not, however, despairingly neglect the power of God that teems within us through the indwelling Holy Spirit. "We shall live with Him by the power of God" (II Corinthians 13:4).
"I cannot… I can… through Christ!" Herein lies the protocol of grace through faith whereby we live in the reality that God is God, and that we are His creatures meant to do great and glorious things, but ever and always in the realization that the great and glorious God serves as the source and power of all. Weak in Him? Absolutely. Strong in Him? Absolutely. All glory to Him? Absolutely!
"And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong."
(Hebrews 11:32-34; emphasis added)
Weekly Memory Verse
The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.
(Psalm 145:17).
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