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August 7, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Handicapped and His Glory, by Sarah Stirman
Over a recent Sunday lunch, the kids were discussing different events
from Sunday school and who got to be which character in different
skits. I tuned into the conversation just in time to hear one child
proclaim, "Lindy's so lucky: she got to be the crippled person and
Jesus!" The conversation quickly moved on to parts they have each
played, and I was left deep in thought over that statement.
Initially, it struck me as funny simply because I know that few
"crippled people" would consider anyone who got to take their place as
lucky. While technology and medicine make life more convenient for the
handicapped every day, that is still an enormous life obstacle. Then if
you think back to the time that Christ was on earth -- and people
routinely used such terminology as "the crippled person" -- the
handicapped were truly considered the outcast and useless of society.
No, I don't imagine anyone who gets to be the crippled person would be
considered lucky.
Then I began thinking of being Jesus. Now there's an impossible
standard. I realize, however, that I am called to be precisely that. I
am the hands and feet and aroma of Jesus to the world we live in. Yes,
those are some mighty big shoes to fill, especially when I consider
myself to identify far more closely with the "crippled person" than
with Jesus. I find myself handicapped in God's kingdom on a regular
basis. I am crippled, and paralyzed by doubt and fear. I am blind to
the faithfulness and majesty of my God. I am deaf to His calling in my
life. Yes, in His kingdom, I see myself as the "crippled person."
Gloriously, our Father specializes in putting handicaps -- physical,
social, and otherwise -- to use for His glory and gain! The Gospel of
John introduces us to a woman shunned by society for not living
according to the moral standards of those around her (John 4). Jesus
used her, the woman at the well, to bring his good news to her entire
region (John 4:39-41). A little later in the gospel, John tells of a
blind man that Jesus said was born blind "that the work of God might be
displayed in his life" (John 9:2 NIV). He was given sight and through
his sight illustrated the blindness of the Pharisees (John 9:39-41).
These are only two of many occurrences throughout Jesus' life on earth
that show that "the least of these" are sometimes the best messengers
of His word and glory.
Paul learned that God's glory shines the brightest through handicaps
and weaknesses:
[The Lord] said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my
power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the
more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on
me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in
insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I
am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Yes, indeed, I am so lucky, or really blessed, as I like to say. I get
to be the handicapped person so that Jesus can be seen in me.
God's glory shines the brightest through handicaps and weaknesses.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarah is part of The Coffee Group, a varied group of women who express
their love, faith, and praise for God with ladies they love. They do
ladies' retreats and special speaking on God's work in their lives, as
well as the importance of sharing your faith story.
Check out their website:
http://www.thecoffeegroup.net
Come visit them on their blog:
http://www.espressohislove.blogspot.com
The Coffee Group is part of the Heartlight.org Network
---------
(c) 2008 Sarah Stirman <sstirman@gmail.com>
RELATED LINKS:
* Useful!
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200610/20061003_useful.html
* The Prayer of an Angel
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200703/20070312_prayerangel.html
* The Healing
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200804/20080409_healing.html
* The Cleft of the Rock
http://www.sarahstirman.blogspot.com/
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200808/20080807_handicapped.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
CURE FOR THE COMMON LIFE: LIVING IN YOUR SWEET SPOT, by Max Lucado
In Cure for the Common Life, Max Lucado offers practical tools for
exploring and identifying your own uniqueness, putting your strengths
to work, and living in your "sweet spot" for the rest of your life.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?256
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
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ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
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