Everything I do it just comes apart
Everything is torn apart
And that's the hardest part --Chris Martin's The Hardest Part
These are the closing lines from my new favorite Coldplay song that got me thinking.
I am unspiritual. --the Apostle Paul, who wrote half the New Testament
Then those three words hit me hard when I read them in Romans 7. Partly because of who wrote them (maybe the most passionate follower of Jesus ever), but also because that is how I often feel. Unspiritual, inadequate, lacking, deficient, defective, poor, incompetent, not perfect. But don't you love God--of course I do. Aren't you a "minister"--yes, last I checked. Haven't you been spiritually and materially blessed--for sure. But I don't at all think that means I can't feel like this. After all I'm human, just as Paul was. Everyone has to feel this way sometimes. Admitting this isn't easy, but the perspective it brings is healthy.
And I've found that out of this acknowledgement comes freedom and life. Freedom from fear and isolation and life the way Christ intended it to be, full and satisfying. What I mean is, when I recognize that I am weak, completely and utterly weak, only then I can truly understand the enormouse scope of what Christ has done for me. How he has rescued my life from the pit of death, one that is too deep for me to begin to crawl out of. Jesus is my superhero: he's heard my damsel's helpless cry, defeated the enemy, and saved my life. His power is demonstrated (and made perfect) in my weakness. So why would I deny that I am terribly weak. Why would I refute the truth that sets his wonderful working grace in motion. I hate that so much is made in the world of what I am capable of; individualism, me me me, be all that you can be, all mark our culture. How great it is though to know that my worth is found in him; that my future depends on his faithfulness; that in spite of my flaws God can use me for the extraordinary. For what I am not, Christ is. Thank you Lord for the amazing story and power that is Jesus.
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pic of the day, from Mize:
3 comments:
Cody,
Thanks for your words today. I was reminded of exactly what you are talking about last night while I was at Devo.
Cody,
Did I ever tell you that I went back to the LA Union Rescue Mission the summer after our SBC? Well I did, and stayed in the same room where Keridon, Jennifer, Celena and I were locked out of. The window was still broken. Way to go Adam and Cal!
That's right props to Adam and Cal, we freaking got to break the law for Christ! Saving women in the name of the Lord is the greatest part of mission work!
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