2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NAS): “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
And there are a LOT of weaknesses. Take your pick.
I possess a couple of virtues (I say as humbly as possible), but it recently came to my attention that a cheerful heart isn’t necessarily one of them. I’m reading through Proverbs and recently stumbled — probably divinely — on this term.
Needless to say I felt a bit convicted. Sure, I have my list of excuses: Work, hormones, sleep deprivation, people, Mondays…etc. Maybe six years of writing about murder and mayhem has made me cynical. Maybe these are all just convenient excuses for my spiritual laziness…
Regardless, I need to work on having a cheerful heart from which the fruits of the Spirit can overflow. I need to work on loving people. After all, if you love only those who love you, you’re no better than those who are cruel to you. And, if you are kind only to friends, you are no different than your enemy.
Ouch. More stabbing conviction.
I like to periodically challenge myself to focus on different aspects of Christian theology — especially since one can’t possibly dwell on the whole of it at once. This whole ‘cheerful heart’ thing seems like a good place to set up camp. Pray that I can grasp and experience what it means to have a cheerful heart. If you have insight in this area, I expect you to share your cheerfulness with me!
I’m incredibly grateful that God chooses to use people like you and me. I am definitely flawed — so, perfect away!
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