Good Morning Friends,
Today we explore how power can be made perfect in weakness and how God helps us to overcome our rebellious nature. Here positive outcomes seem to hinge on attitude and grace and an affirmative response to today’s question that is really about the Holy Spirit too. As Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth for the second time, His reception was not any better than the first visit.He was not accepted and appreciated among His own people. Would We Welcome Jesus?
Scripture: And when he spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. He said to me, Mortal, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants are impudent and stubborn. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, “Thus says the Lord God.” Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them.
Ezekiel 2:2-5 (NRSV)
even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NRSV)
He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching.
Mark 6:1-6a (NRSV)
Message: We spend a lot of time at church and faith-based activities, but Jesus is not always the focus of our gatherings. And sometimes what we think we want most evades us. We lack Holy Spirit power because we are focused on what we want instead of what God wants. Jesus may have experienced a bit of this in his own hometown. Paul faced this challenge in his own life too. You see, something about Paul was not physically right. Many think it was poor vision, perhaps cataracts. Over and over, he prayed for healing. Perhaps it was related to his relationships. Friends, Jesus could have ignored our plight and still been divine, but He is now called Lord God because He did not forget about us. He became weak so we might be saved. Paul writes about this about his own life. And over and over he prayed for healing. But God’s answer was not, your faith has made you well, instead an unexpected truth: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” In weakness, God’s power reaches perfection. Paul cannot pretend that whatever success he has is due to his own talents or efforts. None of us can do that, only Jesus.
And So, in our interactions if we get anything from it that improves life, that’s really God’s spirit working. That is why we must welcome Jesus into our own weaknesses. That is the way to learn to love.
Pray we realize that we too are weak, but that God is strong. Pray we are not too proud or haughty or self-absorbed. Pray we not be hypocrites but humble. Pray we are familiar with Jesus and face our weaknesses with Him. Pray we are satisfied with what we have but still strive for justice and love in the power of the Holy Spirit for an abundant life. Pray we be healed, but if we are not, discover the hidden blessings in weakness. Pray we realize that God’s love and care for us does not depend upon our attitudes, actions, or affections but that when we welcome God’s love our attitudes, actions and affections we are transformed with Holy Spirit power. Pray for the millions upon millions of souls starving for faith and spiritually hungry not realizing that Christ is the only thing that truly satisfies. Pray we glorify God in our prayers with the welcoming Spirit of grace as we are both comforted and convicted.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 