If you DECLARE the gospel and don’t LIVE IT – you will confuse people.
If you LIVE the gospel and don’t DECLARE IT – you will condemn people.

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Strength in Weakness

Recently I was at the VA hospital in Nashville while some men were painting the curb in front of one of the entrances. As I was approaching the entrance (talking on a cell phone) I didn't notice all the signs indicating the paint so I absent-mindedly walked right through it. Those who know me well know this is not unusual. Anyway, one of the painters was not happy and proceeded to let me know in a not so kind way. He blasted me, and so, I blasted him back. I was immediately pierced and didn't get but a few paces when I turned and went back to ask his forgiveness, which he granted. What happened next is really the story here. A lady standing close by saw this and expressed her joy in witnessing the reconciliation.

I only wish I was always that quick to ask forgiveness when I know I have offended. And while she may have witnessed me living the gospel when I asked forgiveness, I failed at the opportunity to declare the gospel by telling her of the grace alone that she saw working in me to do what I could never do.

Too often we think we need to "be and do" so the world will see that we are "good Christians." Difficult as it is to train our understanding, we must. Instead of having our goal as to "be and do" we should understand that we can't "be" and we can't "do." That is why we need grace. In fact grace is never seen in our strength; it is always seen in our weakness.

"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." (2 Cor 12:9)

It may sound strange but it's almost like I could wish for the conflict just so I can get to the reconciliation part. Try to think of it this way. It's not about what we have done as much as what we do about what we have done. Let's go back to the VA hospital scene.

What did I do?
I lashed out at the painter. That was definitely me!

What did I do about that?
I asked forgiveness.

But wait a minute.

What I did about it wasn't about me and it wasn't me that did it. It was all about Christ and every bit of it was His grace working in me.

It's interesting how the world is always trying to show forth its best...always its accomplishments...never its failures. But should that be the heart of a Christian? It wasn't the heart of Paul. After telling all about his pedigree and his accomplishments he had this to say...

"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ..." (Phil 3:7–8)

None of this is to say that obedience doesn't matter and what we do doesn't matter. Not at all!

Listen to some of these exhortations from Paul...

"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;" (Phil 2:12)

"Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more." (1 Th 4:1)

Even our recent study in James tells us that "faith works." But here it is. It's knowing we can't but He can...

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

As we live the gospel and declare the gospel to a world without Christ...