When I was younger and we were on the farm, I remember a time when this guy came out from the city to load up some straw bales to take back with him. This guy was huge, weightlifter huge before the time of Arnold and Lou. Dad was in great shape, but this guy had some pounds on him. If an outsider was to take bets on who could load the truck faster with less sweat, I am sure that most would go with the bodybuilder rather than the skinny farmer. Now, this guy was chucking the bales around pretty good, launching them onto the truck with relative ease and rather quickly but it didn’t take long to realize that the initial fervour was going to wane with time. You see, we can look at the size and build and make an assumption based on preconceived notions but when it comes right down to it, there is more to true strength than looks. This guy did reps in the gym working in a specific pattern to build the muscles up over a specific time but what he had failed to do was work on his endurance. Dad, on the other hand, threw these bales around every day plus he loaded buckets with chop and carried them the length of the barn every morning and night. Dad lifted gates into place, shoved pigs and cows out of the way, cut boards with a handsaw, pounded nails, fixed fences and basically had a twelve-hour workout every single day. Dad had stamina, an inner strength that many could have missed if they were looking for a stereotypical “strong man”.
There are many people out there whom I greatly admire
because of their strength. There are those who are not afraid to show their
feelings rather than hide behind a façade, those who show strength in their
transparency, the ones who are not too proud to admit when they are wrong or
even lost and need directions. Some of my greatest mentors are the first to go
to prayer, acknowledge the Saviour, Jesus Christ, as Lord and lean upon the Spirit
for guidance and strength.
When I think of all this, I
fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven
and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will
empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his
home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s
love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all
God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May
you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.
Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that
comes from God. Eph 3:14-19
Christ did not come as a giant king on a white stallion
ready to destroy all who opposed the Jewish nation but rather, He came to show
the way in a very different manner. He brought the love and peace of God in a
tiny, vulnerable package. His might was in the stamina, His coming is still
celebrated today. He came to show the way to live a wonderful life wrapped in
the power of the Spirit. His love for us is far greater than we will ever
realize while we walk this earth but when we meet in glory, the fullness of His
agape (love) will be revealed completely. He is in this for the long haul and
those who claim the fullness of grace will share in the joy now and forever. Do
not be fooled by the false might of those of the world for their power is
fleeting, instead put your faith in the King of the universe.
This week we celebrate the Might of Christmas, week four of
Advent. We invite you to join us this Sunday either in person or watch us
online at 10:30 AM.
Facebook Live - https://www.facebook.com/main.ave.31
YouTube Live – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs9LIkN_QTdVM6eVXEgy9QA
We look forward to seeing you this Sunday.
Blessings,
Pastor Todd
www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.com
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