Choosing The View!

There are two choices we have when we sense our activity being hampered or when we begin to see limitations coming our way. We can either give up or press on anyway. The key to refraining from giving up is to continue LOOKING UP! Some of the things that may seem to limit could actually be our greatest teachers of where life’s strength truly lies.

Though some preachers, teachers, or other servants of God today may be eager to boast about their great successes in ministry, Paul was one who seemed more comfortable talking about his weaknesses. Not that he was proud of being weak, but in humility he confessed there was much more to his ministry than himself. However, Paul did not allow those limitations to bring his ministry to a halt.

Writing to the church at Corinth he stated. . .
“(7) So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, A THORN WAS GIVEN ME IN THE FLESH, A MESSENGER OF SATAN TO HARASS ME, to keep me from becoming conceited. (8) Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. (9) But he said to me, ‘MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.’ Therefore I WILL BOAST ALL THE MORE GLADLY OF MY WEAKNESSES, so THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME. (10) For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG.” ( 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 ESV)

Satan would like to bring the work of God’s servants to a halt. Things can happen to discourage and bring down and often succeed in doing so. When discouraging situations and times when we perceive our limitations arise, we need to shut out the devil’s message that says, “You might as well give up!” Feeling the tug toward such a focus should be a reminder to begin LOOKING UP again.

Paul would not allow whatever that thorn in the flesh was to stop his work. Instead, he tolerated it while his focus was turned toward more RELIANCE ON GOD. Even the imprisonment Paul acknowledged in his letter to the church at Philippi was viewed as a success story, being a direct means of advancing the gospel. ( Philippians 1:12-14) Through his imprisonment, other doors of opportunity were opened to him and other Christians were encouraged toward more boldness in their own proclaiming of the message of salvation in Jesus. It appears that as long as Paul knew he had the precious gift of God’s grace, he would put up with whatever was necessary to reach others with the message of that saving grace. Perhaps we can see that for Paul it did not depend on his being where he necessarily wanted to be or with limitations removed that provided fruitful ministry, but rather a DEPENDENCE ON the GOD who could work through him wherever he was even in spite of the challenges that were present. May we continue LOOKING UP to God as we humbly accept His great power to work in and through us as well.

Have a great day HUMBLY FINDING SUCCESS IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Life Perspective