Withered Hand

In 2 Corinthians 12 the Apostle Paul referred to a “thorn in the flesh,” which has led to a lot of speculation over the centuries. But if we are not careful, we miss the crux of what Paul is trying to teach us, and that was God’s response to his request for God to remove the thorn."My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  Paul’s response is, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” I Corinthians 12:9

We are not too good about boasting in our infirmities or weaknesses. We usually boast in our strengths and hide our weaknesses, or we are embarrassed by or frustrated with our infirmities. In Mark chapter three, Jesus approaches a man with a withered hand and commands him to “stretch forth his hand.” When he does, his weathered hand is healed and Jesus is glorified. It is only in stretching forth the withered part of our character, life, and ministry at Christ’s command that we can be healed and God glorified. As long as we hide our withered hand in shame, we remain handicapped and unable to reach our full potential in Christ and be used for His glory.

We all tend to operate in the areas of our strengths and abilities. However, when we do, we box ourselves into the limitation of our vision, resources and talents, and God does not receive the glory. God wants to do far beyond what we could ask or think but can only do so as we are willing to seek His will and launch out beyond the borders of our comfort zone into the area of our inability.  As Jesus glorified the Father in the earth, God in these last days is looking for a people He can empower and through whom He can be glorified.

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption — that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord." I Corinthians 1:26-31

God is not looking for gifted, talented, educated and beautiful people, though He can use all these things for His glory. God is looking for people who, despite all their shortcomings and frailties, are willing to launch out into the deep and respond to God’s initiative, people who are willing to cast their net out again when they have already fished all night with no success. God is looking for people who are willing to be foolish in order that He may be glorified, people who despite all the odds are willing to believe God for the impossible.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”  (2 Corinthians 4:7) The world is looking for real people, not perfect people.

May God, by His Spirit, be your strength and enabler today.

Andy Clark