Pastor's Weekly Musing
Hey everyone!
One of the themes in the Bible that I've always had a hard time understanding is the idea that my weaknesses -- my insufficiencies, my areas of difficulty, the things that don't come easy to me -- are somehow for my good and for God's glory.
How is me being weak a good thing?
It's counterintuitive, especially in our do-it-yourself culture. We love to display our strengths, we idolize those who show no weak spots, we platform the best and brightest. And that makes sense, right? I want to see greatness in action, whether it be raw talent or brain power or some kind of artistic ability. We love strength.
But still, there's Paul telling us, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
So, trusting that the Bible knows more than me, let's talk about a few reasons why that might be. I can think of four ways that God uses your weaknesses for good.
1- Your weaknesses prevent arrogance. Isn't that true? When you realize you're not perfect--that you don't have it all together--you will become a much humbler person. And being humble makes you more like Jesus.
God did some great things in and through the apostle Paul. But Paul had something in his life that kept him from becoming arrogant. He called it a "thorn in the flesh" and asked God to take it away: "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you'" (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). God's grace will always be enough for you too.
2- Your weaknesses help you value others. It's okay if you don't have all the gifts, talents, or answers. That just makes you appreciative of and dependent on the people in your life and their gifts and talents. We need each other. Your weaknesses may actually be the way you learn to live in biblical community. 1 Corinthians 12:22 says, "Some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary." (NLT)
3- Your weaknesses make you more dependent on God. A different translation of 2 Corinthians 12:9 (TLB) says, "I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people." If you had no weaknesses, you wouldn't think you needed God. You'd spend your life being self-sufficient--and that's no way to live. It's delusional, and it removes the idea that you need a Savior. Weakness causes us to say "I need You!"
4- Your weaknesses give you a ministry. God doesn't want to use only your strengths in ministry. He also wants to use your weaknesses. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says that God "comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." After God helps you go through a problem or learn to live with a weakness, you can then help somebody else with the same difficulty.
That's the kind of God you serve. He weaves even the bad stuff in your life to make good. God will use your weakness to make you more like Jesus as you depend on him and the family of believers.
What a Savior!
One of the themes in the Bible that I've always had a hard time understanding is the idea that my weaknesses -- my insufficiencies, my areas of difficulty, the things that don't come easy to me -- are somehow for my good and for God's glory.
How is me being weak a good thing?
It's counterintuitive, especially in our do-it-yourself culture. We love to display our strengths, we idolize those who show no weak spots, we platform the best and brightest. And that makes sense, right? I want to see greatness in action, whether it be raw talent or brain power or some kind of artistic ability. We love strength.
But still, there's Paul telling us, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
So, trusting that the Bible knows more than me, let's talk about a few reasons why that might be. I can think of four ways that God uses your weaknesses for good.
1- Your weaknesses prevent arrogance. Isn't that true? When you realize you're not perfect--that you don't have it all together--you will become a much humbler person. And being humble makes you more like Jesus.
God did some great things in and through the apostle Paul. But Paul had something in his life that kept him from becoming arrogant. He called it a "thorn in the flesh" and asked God to take it away: "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you'" (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). God's grace will always be enough for you too.
2- Your weaknesses help you value others. It's okay if you don't have all the gifts, talents, or answers. That just makes you appreciative of and dependent on the people in your life and their gifts and talents. We need each other. Your weaknesses may actually be the way you learn to live in biblical community. 1 Corinthians 12:22 says, "Some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary." (NLT)
3- Your weaknesses make you more dependent on God. A different translation of 2 Corinthians 12:9 (TLB) says, "I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people." If you had no weaknesses, you wouldn't think you needed God. You'd spend your life being self-sufficient--and that's no way to live. It's delusional, and it removes the idea that you need a Savior. Weakness causes us to say "I need You!"
4- Your weaknesses give you a ministry. God doesn't want to use only your strengths in ministry. He also wants to use your weaknesses. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says that God "comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." After God helps you go through a problem or learn to live with a weakness, you can then help somebody else with the same difficulty.
That's the kind of God you serve. He weaves even the bad stuff in your life to make good. God will use your weakness to make you more like Jesus as you depend on him and the family of believers.
What a Savior!
______________________________________________
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES:
Wednesday, March 24: Kids Connect Night
In addition to our normal Wednesday Night Adult Bible study, we'll be offering Kids Connect once a month! Our first Kids Connect Night is March 24th. All elementary-aged kids are invited for an evening of worship, games, and a Bible lesson.
Saturday, March 27: Coffee & Shirts!
What's better than free shirts? Free shirts AND free coffee!
We will be distributing your pre-ordered shirts Saturday, March 27 from 8-11 AM. In addition, we will have a coffee truck serving up free coffee, hot chocolate, and donuts! You're welcome to come and hang out, grab and go, or take advantage of our curbside pick-up. Whatever works best for you! If you did not order shirts, we'd still love to have you stop by and enjoy a coffee on us.
Sunday, April 4: EASTER SUNDAY
We are planning on having THREE services on Resurrection Sunday:
8, 9:30, and 11 AM
Because of capacity limits still in place, we will need everyone to register for their seats. Registration will open this Sunday, and a link will be provided in this musing next week, and on our website.
There will be Kids Church AND an Easter egg hunt at the 9:30 and 11 AM services! It'll be an awesome day: mark your calendars!
Wednesday, March 24: Kids Connect Night
In addition to our normal Wednesday Night Adult Bible study, we'll be offering Kids Connect once a month! Our first Kids Connect Night is March 24th. All elementary-aged kids are invited for an evening of worship, games, and a Bible lesson.
Saturday, March 27: Coffee & Shirts!
What's better than free shirts? Free shirts AND free coffee!
We will be distributing your pre-ordered shirts Saturday, March 27 from 8-11 AM. In addition, we will have a coffee truck serving up free coffee, hot chocolate, and donuts! You're welcome to come and hang out, grab and go, or take advantage of our curbside pick-up. Whatever works best for you! If you did not order shirts, we'd still love to have you stop by and enjoy a coffee on us.
Sunday, April 4: EASTER SUNDAY
We are planning on having THREE services on Resurrection Sunday:
8, 9:30, and 11 AM
Because of capacity limits still in place, we will need everyone to register for their seats. Registration will open this Sunday, and a link will be provided in this musing next week, and on our website.
There will be Kids Church AND an Easter egg hunt at the 9:30 and 11 AM services! It'll be an awesome day: mark your calendars!
______________________________________________
Our Project 150 clothing drive is currently underway! A large box is in our church lobby, and we're receiving all gently-used clothes, shoes, accessories, school supplies, and hygiene products for local High School-aged students in need. Project 150 really is an awesome local non-profit group that benefits hundreds of local teens every year.
Feel free to bring your donations to any Sunday or Wednesday service. Donations will be received until March 22: perfect timing for your annual Spring cleaning!
Feel free to bring your donations to any Sunday or Wednesday service. Donations will be received until March 22: perfect timing for your annual Spring cleaning!
______________________________________________
On Sunday, Mike Rojo will continue the series Q & A: Questions Jesus Asked.
In Matthew 14, Peter has one of the most famous -- and incredible -- experiences in the New Testament: Christ invited him out of his boat to walk on water in the middle of a windstorm.
Can you imagine? Jesus invited Peter to do the impossible, and he actually did it -- until he looked away. Jesus, ever so patient and instructive, asked a poignant question to Peter, one that has huge implications for us even today.
Join us this Sunday for Part 7 - Why did you doubt?
Click HERE to register for this Sunday, and you can click HERE to get connected to our Sunday service online.
Looking forward to seeing many of you on the walkway and the rest of you in the YouTube comments!
Pastor Ronnie
In Matthew 14, Peter has one of the most famous -- and incredible -- experiences in the New Testament: Christ invited him out of his boat to walk on water in the middle of a windstorm.
Can you imagine? Jesus invited Peter to do the impossible, and he actually did it -- until he looked away. Jesus, ever so patient and instructive, asked a poignant question to Peter, one that has huge implications for us even today.
Join us this Sunday for Part 7 - Why did you doubt?
Click HERE to register for this Sunday, and you can click HERE to get connected to our Sunday service online.
Looking forward to seeing many of you on the walkway and the rest of you in the YouTube comments!
Pastor Ronnie
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