Strength In Weakness - Devastating Weakness (July 10, 2005)

Two quotes came to mind as I continue glorifying God for the faithful love of the people of Faith Bible Church. One quote is from Osama bin Laden and the other is from the Apostle Paul.

Bin Laden, gloating over his 9/11 triumph, said to a room of supporters, "When people see a strong horse and a weak horse, by nature, they will like the strong horse." This is true. Strength - animal or human, physical or abstract - is seductive. We gather around successful people and admire their power and hope to absorb some of it. The Bin Ladens and Hitlers of the world exploit this love of strength by their sheer brutal aggression. If they are strong and strike hard and win, they know that some people will like them and will follow them, and will only turn away if they become weak.

Christians, though, discipline themselves to be pleased with goodness no matter how weak its condition, and to be repelled by badness no matter how strong its form. Holiness, not power (or any other kind of success), must be that which delights and pleases and excites us - even if that holiness never seems to win any battle or finish first in any contest.

The Apostle Paul never would have been mistaken for one of bin Laden's "strong horses". Like Jesus he "had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him" (Isaiah 53:2). What could be appealing about a prison inmate in chains, dependent on others' charity and unable to control his judicial destiny? Who wants to get close to that? Well, a few saints were willing. In 2 Timothy 1:16 Paul writes, "May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains."

I have a fresh appreciation for those who are not ashamed of a man's “chains.” I know chains - at least metaphorical ones. I feel their weight dragging on me and their links constricting me, and I know how bad they make me look. But on Sunday mornings the iron grip lightens as faithful brothers and sisters in Christ gather with me and worship the Lord.

Thanks be to God for every noble soul who pities a weak horse, who delights to refresh a prisoner in chains. May our good God enrich you all with the rewards of Onesiphorus.