12-7-2016

Good Morning All,

           Romans 15:1; “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

        Many years ago when I was in college, a group of us were discussing the emergence of the “new” Muslim extremism with one of our history professors.  This was in the early 1980’s.  We were asking him what he thought caused the newest events.  The talking heads on television said it was the result of two specific events.  The professor thought it wasn’t quite that simple.  He listed about a dozen or so issues in the past going back to WW 1.  Yet he said it is difficult to ever actually assign a specific cause to any event.  Each person really has their own reasons for what they do and to oversimplify always did a disservice to history and truth.  As we left the discussion, it struck me as ironic.  A seventh or eighth grader “knows” their history as a fact better than someone like our professor who had spent most of his life studying history.  The professor realized a great educational truth; the more you study the more you realize that you know very little.  Perhaps being smart is knowing that you are not.

    Fast forward those many years; we were having a Bible study that included this verse.  We were discussing how do you know who is strong and who is weak.  We thought that the weak would be those who relied on themselves.  The weak would place themselves in situations that they could not extract themselves.  The weak would overestimate their own strength and view themselves as much stronger than they really are.

    The strong are the ones who recognize that they are truly weak.  The strong are those who know that all their strength comes from Christ.  This is what Luther described as “life at the foot of the cross.”  If I face any struggle or challenge on my own; I will surely fail.  Yet, if I stand in the righteousness of Christ, nothing can defeat me.  Within Christ, my life has meaning and purpose.  Within Christ, there is a certain hope for tomorrow.  Within Christ, I am strong and able to withstand what the devil throws.

    So in our faith walk, the strong are the ones who recognize their weakness without Christ.  The strong know that to walk away from Christ is a disaster waiting to take place.  The strong know from where their strength comes.  We are strong because we know that we must cling to Christ to remain strong.  On our own, we are lost.  Being strong is knowing that you are not.  Being strong is remaining at the foot of the cross, looking to Jesus for our strength.

Gracious Lord, you are our strength and our rock.  Keep us safe in your loving arms.  Guide us by your Spirit that we may always stand upon you.  Keep us from the folly of our own strength.  Be with those who are struggling or hurting.  Bring them healing.  Be with the weak who have wandered away.  Return them by your Spirit that they may be restored.  Guard us with your holy angels.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret