Have you considered weakness as a ministry resource?
Paul did. He says in 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 (NIV) “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 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.”I’m sensing that many of us are feeling our weaknesses. Do not despair! Let’s not whip ourselves to try to do better. Let this recognition of our vulnerability lead us to really know how much we need God. When people who are desperate turn to God in prayer, great things can happen. God can really do His work when we are weak.
God loved this world so much that He sent His one and only son to save us. To do that, Jesus “made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death ― even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:7-8, NIV). The truly human Jesus desperately cried out in prayer for God to find another way but added “nevertheless not my will but yours be done”. Weakness was God’s way for Himself, for his son Jesus and for us.
In 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV) Paul says “we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” God loves us as we are – clay vessels. He wants to come and fill these vessels and He delights to use us as such for His glory.
When we recognise who we are, when we know our true identity, then we can enter God’s rest and allow Him to lead and guide us to be the people He wants us to be. Paul went from being a missionary and international church planter and preacher, to an isolated prisoner in jail, but his ministry did not cease. He was able to write letters that we depend on today, and to witness to make disciples of his guards, who then took the Gospel into Caesar’s palace.
What do we clay vessels contain? What can we minister to others? – a listening ear, understanding, peace, joy, laughter, Good News … We may be able to make phone calls, write letters, pray. Easter is a great opportunity to share Good News. Let your Easter eggs be a message of love and the new life God offers.
Pastor Lyall