Weakness or reality?

Boasting in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9,10) and being called to walk in weakness - i.e. in humility - is a bit of a paradox. Normally boasting and humility are opposites; a seeming contradiction. 

We see other examples of this paradox in the following... "to live you must die"... "to find your life you must lose it." Don't we normally boast in our strengths, not our weakness? 

So what does this mean? In a sense, it is a play on words. Weakness is really nothing more than simply recognizing the reality of our dependence i.e. seeing ourselves according to the truth that we are dependent creatures. It is not really weakness in the commonly understood sense. It is operating according to the reality of who we are as finite beings dependent on our Infinite Creator. 

This is another way of saying we are not our own god - the opposite of the lie Adam and Eve bought into. The necessary recognition of this reality (our dependence) is actually the basis for our true strength and flourishing because it is grounded in the reality of our true nature and design as creatures.

It only ²seems like weakness to us if and when we are committed to being our "own god" ...being our own god is not actually possible because this ultimately leads to eternal death and separation from the only true God.

"Weakness" is only being who we were designed to be and really are - finite creatures created in God's image - totally dependent on our Creator and his love to operate fully as God intended and designed us to. When we recognize this "weakness" we are strong in our dependence on God and the power He gives in and through His love/Spirit.

This is not alien to who we really are - who we were created to be - but only to who we choose to be i.e. our own god. Therefore, we are actually strong in God only when we are weak in ourselves. 

"...Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing... As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love..." - John 15:5b and 9

These are Jesus own words in the upper room shortly before his betrayal and upcoming crucifixion (the completion of his own humiliation and ultimate experience of weakness on our behalf). 

This type of "weakness" recognizes all life, love, meaning, and purpose is from God alone, not ourselves, and to living accordingly. 

We were never designed to be our own god; to operate independently of God and outside of his infinite, boundless love. To attempt doing so leads to death, just as God warned. 

To live in this way (as totally independent) only gives the appearance of power. And it often does feel powerful but only for a season because it is not power rooted in the reality that from, through, and to God - not us -  are all things. Trying to be our own god is short term power rooted in the lie that we can be i.e. we are the source of power and God isn't.  

To live according to truth, the way we were designed to live, is to live fully and truly. It is not weakness, it is true power, it is fullness of life; abundant life. It is being loved with nothing less than the infinite, eternal love and joy that flows between the Father and the Son, via the Spirit; the very essence of the life of God.

We are only to be weak "in the flesh" i.e. in our attempts to garner the approval of God and man by our efforts. 

However, we are to be strong "in the Spirit" i.e. in actions driven by the Spirit/Love. In and by so doing we bear much fruit for his glory. 

Joh 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they ¹know you (the Father) the only true God, and (I) Jesus Christ whom you have sent. - 

Jesus talking to his Father right before he was betrayed by Judas Iscariot.

For a further discussion on the difference between operating "in the flesh" vs "in the Spirit" see the following... 

Defining terms: the flesh, the Spirit, living in and by the Spirit, living under or by the law etc

Starting in the Spirit, ending in the flesh. 

"performance" or action by faith

The above was inspired by "Way of the Dragon or The Way of the Lamb" page 13. by Jamin Goggin and Kyle Stroble. 

To download the intro and chapter 1 from the book click here and "get a free chapter" on the bottom right. 

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¹know: ginōskō - Thayer Definition:

1) to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel

1a) to become known

2) to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of

2a) to understand

2b) to know

3) Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse (i.e. intimate knowledge through first hand experience- my comment) between a man and a woman

4) to become acquainted with, to know

²seems like weakness... I would add it also feels like weakness. Whenever we are required to depend on someone this feels weak. The real issue however is it requires trust when distrust is the heart of our problem. We don't want or like to trust. We like being our own god. Yet being finite requires we trust and if we are wise we trust Him who along knows all things and loves us infinitely. 

 

We prefer to follow in the footsteps and example of Adam. The is bound up in the very core of our being. However when you consider we are dependent creatures, it is in reality simply acting as we were created to act i.e. as finite creatures created in the image of the infinite Creator.

Love and Power connected

Love and power are not antithetical in God's economy. They are in fact directly connected. Love is the driving power/energy/motivation to act for the glory (loveliness/beauty) of God. God's love for us moves us to put his love on display for others to see and be drawn to. It is the essence of the greatest commandment to love God will all our heart, soul, mind and strength and our neighbors as ourselves.

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out (bring to full fruition) your own salvation (the right standing which you already fully possess in Christ) with fear and trembling (in the awe, respect and amazement of that finished work Christ has completed and the suffering it took Christ to accomplish on your behalf), for it is God who works (moves) in you, both to will (desire) and to work (carry out and display Him in his greatness and love) for his good pleasure." Php 2:12,13 (ESV - English Standard Version)  My comments in ( ). 

"Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. Php 2:12,13 (Amplified Version)

The above was inspired by "Way of the Dragon or The Way of the Lamb" page 11. by Jamin Goggin and Kyle Stroble. Soon to be released.

From God and for God

Only what is from God and for God is worth pursuing and participating in because it aligns us with the reality that everything already is from and for him.

What do I mean by "from God...?" 

Any actions by us that are driven by God's gracious love - vs. our independent performance to earn God's love/approval - i.e. He, by his love, is the impetus behind our actions. 

What do I mean by "for God...?"

Any actions that are driven to show off God - done for his honor/glory - and not to show us off i.e. to draw attention to ourself and advance on our rebellious independence from God.

To only carry out those things that are from and for God is to deliberately participate in what is already true i.e. everything is actually from, through and to him whether we consciously participate or not i.e. regardless of our willful participation.

One day every knee will bow and acknowledge that he is Lord and all things are from, through and to him and he is the sovereign means and end of all things. 

If we conduct our lives as if all things are not from, through and to God we will also go into eternity without him i.e. continue on the same delusional -- outside of reality -- and destructive trajectory throughout eternity that we lived while on earth. Our eternal existence will merely be an extension of our present one; an existence that refuses to recognize God is Lord of everything i.e. it will be a life absent of God in eternity as it is presently -- though not in reality just consciously, for in him we live move and have our being,  

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"

For a further discussion on our eternal state and living a life without God click here.  

Seeing Christs love through struggles

God uses our feebleness, frailties and limitations and the struggles they bring upon us to undermine our trust in ourselves and strengthen our trust in him...when we let him.

What God did for us and offers to us in Christ is the foundation on which our trust of him is built.

And expanded explanation:

God uses the struggles our feebleness, frailties and limitations bring upon us to undermine our trust in our ability to make life work without him. 

While at the same time strengthening/increasing our trust in him and his ability to guide us for our best...When we let him.

What God did for us and offers to us in Christ is the foundation on which our ultimate trust of him must be and is built. 

To say it another way, if you struggle with trusting God, look to Christ and all he did for you. What he put himself through and the pain he allowed himself to experience in order to restore you to his Father's love.

The greater your struggles, the deeper you must dig in to what Christ did for you to see this great love he demonstrated and has for you. 

This digging accomplishes two vital things. It exalts Christ and reveals the vastness of his love for you.

The more you struggle the deeper you must dig. The deeper you dig the more you see and the greater your appreciation, love and trust in Christ grows. He who is forgiven much loves much. 

"But he who is forgiven little, loves little...." Jesus to Simon the Pharisee. Lk 7:47

Conflicting dispositions within God?

There are two sentiments or dispositions within God that are in tension and appear to be in conflict. 

One is God's patience, compassion, and understanding of our shortcomings and frailties. 

The other is God's disapproval of the harm and destruction our shortcomings and frailties cause us and others. 

To say it another way, in Christ, God loves us with no strings attached, while He hates the rebellion (distrust) within us that causes us to stray from him and bring harm to others and ourselves.

The irony is, because God loves us so much, he hates anything that causes us and others harm.

The solution? 

These two seemingly conflicting and contrary dispositions meet and are resolved in Christ and his work on our behalf.

Psa 85:10  Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Rom 3:26  It was to show his righteousness at the present time so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

For a further discussion on justice and mercy click here

The just shall live by grace/faith

As impossible as it is to ¹enter the kingdom of God by our efforts, it is equally impossible to ²live out the life God calls us to by our efforts/will power i.e. To love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and our neighbor as our self is impossible unaided.

¹ "... who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." - John an apostle of Jesus Joh 1:13

² "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." -Jesus to his 12 disciples at the last supper. Joh 15:4-5

We cannot will ourselves to be different, we can only choose to believe or not believe; trust or not trust God. Belief versus unbelief is the work we are responsible for not right behavior over wrong behavior.

Joh 6:29  Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."

God drives change in behavior we don't i.e. choosing to believe God results in right (changed) behavior.

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." Phil 2:12-13

"...so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy..." 

What is it we must believe? What is the nature of abiding? 

"As the Father has loved me, so (in the very same way) have I loved you. Abide (choose to continuously believe or stand in the assurance of) in my love." - Jesus to his 12 disciples at the last supper. Jesus Joh 15:9

To recognize/believe/fully accept that in Christ *we are loved in the same manner (constantly) and to the same degree (infinitely) the Father loves his Son as proven in Christ giving himself sacrificially for us.  

Can there be any greater love?! This is the very same love with which we are loved if you are Gods child no matter what we hear, experience or think. Let God be true and every man a liar -- which includes ourselves. 

When we truly believe we are loved in this way (and do not lose sight of this i.e. we abide/remain steadfast in believing this) it changes everything; our outlook on all of life, our view of ourselves, others and how we treat them i.e. our behavior/actions. 

For a further discussion on how the righteous live by faith, click here.

For a further discussion on the anatomy of motivation, click here. 

For a further discussion on how faith is hard work click here

______________________________________________Footnotes:

¹Some argue if God fully loves me right here and now, regardless of what we do, say, feel, or experience, why does how I live matter i.e. why should I live righteously? 

God loves us too much to let us live contrary to his perfect design i.e. living righteously matters, not to gain God's love since we fully have it in Christ, but so we might experience His love in all its fullness. 

Our experiencing all that God is and has for us is conditioned on obedience.

 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. John 14:21,23

The above passages show that the manifestation of Christ's love for us and experiencing His and the Father's presence is contingent on our faithful pursuit (obedience) of Him. 

It also matters because living in obedience to God honors him. When we truly understand how God has honored us and values us by what He did for us in and through Christ, we will want to live for God and bring Him glory. If we do not desire to live for Him we do not yet understand what He did for us. So focus on Christ, double redouble your efforts to accomplish a list of deeds. 

Experiencing God's love… By faith or action?

We can only bring God's infinite love to others to the extent we have received it ourselves.

Why do we need to receive it before we can give it? Because in and of ourselves we do not have the ¹love others need. We are all designed for perfect love but cut ourselves off from the Father in all his infinite love by our rebellious distrust (our turning away from trust in God to trust in our self) and our attempts at living independent of this love and life i.e. God himself. We are now void of his love and can only offer it by being reconnected to God through Christ.

Receiving God's love

Receiving his love is not necessarily a feeling or emotional experience but a faith experience; the engaging of our trust. It is believing in the objective reality of God's fixed love for us in Christ. This is what we are called to do; to trust/believe. This is our "work." 

Joh 6:29  Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."

Receiving Gods love is believing, receiving and knowing we are already fully loved in Christ, not waiting for some subjective feeling of his love to overwhelm us and drive us to action. And how do we know this? We trust what he's said and did in and through Christ. 

Love (a subjective sense of it) however is also usually experienced and released in and through our loving others. Loving others as God calls us to is itself an act of faith which results in experiencing God's love.

This is why were are told we not only come into the kingdom by faith but we also live it and walk in it by faith. Our experiencing Gods' love starts with faith which in turn leads to even greater faith.

Gal 3:11  Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." See also Hab 2:4; Rom 1:17; Heb 10:38

It is in our treating others with kindness and compassion (because we have been treated this way by God) that we experience His love in living it out and letting it flow through us to others.

What moves us to action?

Faith is our motivation. Or to be more precise, God himself and his infinite love is. As we believe and receive his love is fully ours (he is for us, not against us) it is released in and through us. This is the primary means -- our faithful obedience to love others as he loves us -- by which we receive/experience his vast unlimited, never-ending love. It is in our  believing his love is fully ours in Christ, we are moved to action/obedience.

This is also what it means to abide in Christ. To ²remain/stay/abide in a posture of faith that God loves us fully and infinitely in Christ regardless of what we do or don't do, feel or don't feel, experience or don't experience. It is only as and when we ²abide that we bear "much fruit." For without Christ (in his infinite all-embracing love) we can "do nothing" i.e. love others with God's kind of love i.e. bear much fruit.

This is the very same love that flows between the Father and Son. If we are in Christ's, this love is fully ours and already dwells in us by his Spirit; the very same Spirit of love that unites the Father and Son. Simply by virtue of God's Spirit living in us, we are living in and under the perfect covering and care of his love, regardless of our feelings i.e. this is the objective reality of our status, our state of being. 

The more we believe his love is totally ours (always fully present with us, in us and on us regardless of feelings or circumstances) the more we are empowered to live it out to others. The more we live out his love to others the more we engage, participate in and experience it. 

Joh 14:21  Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." (This was part of the answer of Christ to Phillip to "show us the Father" stated earlier in Joh 14:8  Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.")

The above passage indicates the (subjective) manifestation of God's (objective) love is clearly tied to our pursuit of God i.e. our keeping his commandments. 

Seeing the Father (and subjectively experiencing him fully) is directly tied to keeping God's commandment. The primary commandment being to "love one another" stated later in this same conversation. 

Joh 15:12  "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

So which is first? Do we experience his love by faith or in our acting by faith?

Both

His love has already been fully poured out on us and demonstrated to us by God sending his Son to live and die for us. This is the objective reality of our status before God. There is nothing else needed to fully prove or secure God's love for us. The only thing preventing this love being fully ours (subjectively experiencing it) first hand is believing God and his Son did this for you and I personally and then acting accordingly. Once we recognize and accept Christ's work on our behalf, his Spirit of infinite love takes up his abode within us and his care for us, remains on us (objectively) without conditions.

However, once we are in Christ, we are now called to extend this same love to others who have yet to receive it. In our extending it, it flows to us and through us to others.

Joh 14:21  Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."

Joh 14:23  Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home (dwell with, abide with, be present) with him.
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¹we all need Gods bottomless, never-ending, infinite love; mere human love, though meaningful, is insufficient.

²For a fuller discussion on abiding, click here.