HOW STRONG AM I?
Yesterday I finished a year long discipleship program that actually took me a year and a half. I can’t tell you how much I gained from this experience. It has been an exciting adventure of learning and practicing what I learned.
King Solomon said, “If you faint in the day of adversity (difficulty, hardship, danger, misfortune), your strength is small” (Prov. 24:10). The time to gauge our strength is not in the good times, but in the hard times. It seems odd to be glad when we encounter various trials and temptations, but when we have been in spiritual training, we can see these times as the experiential application and practice of the head knowledge we have been gaining (James 1:2-4). I’ve found that in the times of adversity when I do this, strength rises up within me as the Holy Spirit takes over in His power and might, for “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). The training, discipline and preparation we do in the good times, sets up a foundation of understanding, knowledge, wisdom and strength for the hard times.
In talking about the armor of God, Paul makes it clear that we will live in evil days but that we can be prepared and equipped to make it through (Eph. 6:13). It is obvious that we live in a world of opposition and adversity as every day we are tempted to live for ourselves instead of the love of Jesus; to escape dealing with reality; to function in old habits rather than disciplining ourselves to become like Christ. Paul tells us to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might (Eph. 6:10). Building our strength in Christ is essential so that we will be protected from the evil one and able to “run this race with perseverance” and without hindrances (Heb. 12:1-2). Individually we need to grow as disciples or followers of Christ, but we also need to be growing in strength and unity as a church body so that we can effectively minister to the world around us that is falling apart.
Solomon goes on to say, “Rescue those who are being taken away to death. Hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. Don’t excuse yourself by saying, ‘Look, we didn’t know.’ For God understands all hearts, and He sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve” (Prov. 24:11-12).
God’s call for us to rescue those who are dying is pretty clear. Harriet Tubman took this literally. Having been born into slavery, she had a passion to be free and escaped through the under ground railroad. This passion for freedom was not for her alone, but for her people; so in spite of a physical handicap resulting from a brain injury, she risked her life time and time again by going back into the land of bondage and leading slaves to freedom.
Corrie Ten Boom and her family also took this verse to heart when they chose to hide Jews in their home during WWII. The physical price was immense as they were found out and put in a concentration camp where all but Corrie survived; and yet, none fainted or failed in the day of adversity because their hope was firmly established in God.
Jesus went about teaching and preaching the Kingdom of God; He welcomed the people and had compassion for them; He rescued and freed those who were in bondage to sin and death by forgiving sins; He cast out demons, healed the sick and raised the dead (Matt. 4:23-24). He did (and does) all these things for those who were looking for Him, who believed and accepted His truth and the gifts of His love, forgiveness and healing.
Jesus told us that we would be doing the things that He did, and even greater things (John 14:12)! Individually this may not be possible, but as His strong, healthy body (the church) who functions in the gifts, power and might of the Holy Spirit, nothing will be impossible with God (Luke 1:37).
I would like to encourage you to take a step deeper into your relationship with Jesus. If you don’t already have a good discipleship plan, I would encourage you to check out a couple of things. (Note that I am suggesting a study in addition to daily Bible reading, not a replacement of that). The study I just finished is an online discipleship program called Ellel 365. There is a lesson to read 5 days a week, along with a review at the end of the five days. There are also approximately two audio and video lessons a week. The material can be covered in one year (“365”), but they allow two years for completion, so there is flexibility. The link is http://live.em365.org/
Navigators also have a wonderful discipleship program, and I’m sure there are many more out there. So if you are ready to go a little deeper, ask the Lord to show you how He wants you to do this. He’ll let you know.
In Jesus Love,
Nancy