“Since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.” – 2 Corinthians 13:3-4

Today, as was true two thousand years ago, Christians are often confused about what strength and weakness looks like in God’s Kingdom. Indeed, we often have these concepts completely reversed! Our secular culture views strength as the visible exercise of power and authority, calling down fire upon opponents and wielding authority like a tyrant. This worldly understanding of strength seeps into believers all too often!

Jesus, the Almighty Son of God, explicitly rejected the use of such power until the day He returns to judge the world. Jesus changes the world through internal heart change, not through exercises of power meant to coerce obedience through fear. Jesus saved the world by silently enduring false accusation, humiliation, suffering, and terrible death. By these means, Jesus conquered sin and death itself. Through His death and resurrection all who believe in Jesus are saved and receive access to the infinite strength of God given through His Spirit.

Such strength isn’t given to violently conquer the world or harshly bring order out of chaos. Christ’s power is given for us to endure whatever it takes to love the world, to guide lost souls into faith in Christ, and to firmly but humbly teach believers how to embrace and obey the impossibly tough commands of Jesus. The weak call down fire. The strong endure fire for the sake of love and obedience to Jesus.

“My heart is steadfast, O God!
I will sing and make melody with all my being!”
– Psalm 108:1

King David, the psalmist, is steadfast. His faith is unshakable. He’s fully committed to worshiping, praising, and thanking God. He’ll praise God in front of friends and foes alike. However, that isn’t because everything is perfect in his life – far from it!

As this psalm unfolds, it’s clear that David’s in a tough spot. It seems there’s a war going on and he feels God may have abandoned or rejected his people. Nonetheless, David isn’t going to give up on God or try to work things out in his own strength. He knows that won’t get him out of his peril. Prayer is his priority and focus because He knows God and He knows God is the only way past the crisis.

This is an excellent example for us when we face those inevitable seasons of difficulty and doubt. We too will likely experience times where things don’t seem to be going our way and God feels distant or hostile. We would be wise to imitate David by holding firm to our faith in the goodness and presence of God. God has proven Himself faithful countless times across history and is worthy of our steadfast confidence. We would be wise to imitate David in relying more on prayer and praise than human strength and plans.

Commit to be patient and steadfast like David. Be steadfast in your worship, prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. Hold firmly to God especially in hard seasons when He’s refining and strengthening your faith by feeling distant and disinterested. Like David, sing and make melody with all your being!

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.’” – Mark 13:2

In this verse Jesus gives a specific prophecy regarding the imminent destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. However, it should also serve as a reminder of the temporary nature of all grand earthly structures and priorities. Even the biggest, most impressive, and seemingly important and permanent things here on earth will eventually pass away.

It’s natural to invest our lives into building up things on earth – businesses, farms, churches, nations. We want to give our lives toward things which will outlive us. It’s a good thing to invest in that which is bigger than we are. However, we must recognize that these things aren’t permanent. They will be swept away in time.

From God’s perspective what’s truly permanent and eternal are human beings. Every human soul will last forever. Every human soul will wind up in one of two places – in God’s presence forever (Heaven) or forever separated from God’s presence (Hell). This reality needs to define our personal priorities. We’re free to invest in building up things of the world, but we should prioritize helping people connect to God through faith in Jesus. We must prioritize building people up as disciples of Jesus Christ who make disciples over building up buildings and institutions.

Buildings, businesses, and empires are temporary. Invest in them, but never grow too attached. They will end. People are eternal. Invest in them for all eternity!

“Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!”
– Psalm 105:4

If you believe in Jesus, then the Lord is always with you. This is wonderful and true, regardless of what you do. However, God also invites and commands you to seek Him continually. What does that mean?

God invites each of His beloved children to get to know Him better. To learn from Him and learn of Him. To talk with Him and enjoy a greater awareness and experience of His presence. To learn how to more fully rely on Him and His strength during difficult times and when serving Him. To know and do His will and experience His pleasure.

How do you do this? How do you continually seek God’s presence when He’s already present?

• Pray daily and throughout the day. This is simply about talking to God, speaking and listening.
• Read, listen to, and study the Bible. This is God’s Word and His primary message to His beloved children. Read and study for yourself, don’t just rely on others to pre-digest Scripture for you.
• Meditate on God’s Word. Think carefully about what it means and how it should apply to your life. Let this be the starting point for yet more prayer.
• Worship God regularly. Gather regularly with others to worship and worship privately on your own throughout the week.
• Serve God. He has prepared work for you to do. Hard work. Challenging work. Important work. Work you won’t be able to do apart from His strength and power. Do that work.
• Share Christ with others. He is very present as you do and it’s His strength that does that hard work of touching the hearts of those with whom you share.

“And the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’” – Mark 12:32-33

Of course Jesus is right! However, this unnamed scribe makes a vital point that drives home the truth of what Jesus just said. All the rule-following, self-discipline, religious practice, and appearances of holiness are worth nothing if we aren’t filled with, and consumed by, absolute love for God and love for others as we love ourselves!

In summarizing all of the Old Testament Law, Jesus makes clear that we need to be full of all-encompassing love for God. We need to love Him with every part of our being – all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Our brains, our hearts, our bodies must be fully devoted to love and worship of God. Knowledge, emotion, spirit, body – all devoted ceaselessly to loving God. Our love for God can’t just live in a single compartment of our lives (the church part), it must define our family life, work life, educational life, social life, and community life.

Our love for our neighbor must never be transactional or based on his or her worthiness of love. It can’t be based on how similar they are to us or whether they agree with us on matters of religion or politics. Our love for our neighbors must be endless, practical, and sacrificial – just as we love ourselves.

These two great loves (God and neighbor) are vastly more important to God than any of the outward practices of our faith. Do you live these loves every day and with greater zeal than you live pretty much anything else?