PASTORAL PONDERINGS

by Pastor James Berger

September 2005

II Corinthians 12:7-10 "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he 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."

I heard a child, a few weeks ago, declare the words my own children once spoke: "I can do it myself." There can be a level of frustration when you hear those words, particularly when you know that the task she has set for herself is far beyond her capacity. . I found as a parent that it was usually best to let them try, stumble and then pitch in as soon as they sought help.

I've also found that this characteristic of being overly self-reliant did not end with maturity. About ten years ago I took our Honda for a quick oil change. As I got out of the car and handed the keys to the technician I asked, "Can you drive a stick shift?" He assured me that he'd have no trouble. I went inside to talk to the manager about some mission work we were sharing when we heard an engine rev, wheels squeal and a thud that shook the building. We cautiously looked out at the shop floor where a dazed mechanic was getting out of my car, now firmly wedged against the back wall by the man who thought he could do what he could not.

Many of us would like to think that we are self-reliant, masters of our own destiny, makers of our own future. But we need others to be complete! We are created by our Maker for relationships, for it is only in fellowship that we are strong.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 declares, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

If this is true in our daily labors, it is double true in our faith walk. We are proud of our independent Baptist identity. It is wonderful to have the freedom to worship God as our conscience guides. It is wonderful when someone supplies for the needs of the fellowship. It delights us all when a project we planned comes off well.

But, we must never forget we are not able to gain salvation on our own labors. That is not possible for the church with ten thousand members nor the family church with twenty. Paul had to depend on grace as does a pastor at Cape Island Baptist Church. It is not possible for the PhD. with an alphabet soup of degrees after her name nor for the ditch digger with perfect church attendance. No matter what we accomplish in life, we are totally dependent upon God.

This is not to discourage anyone, no more than a parent wants to discourage the child attempting new things. It is simply a truth that the task of salvation is too big for us. We need a hand up from God. He has provided this through His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Peter declared in the presence of his enemies, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under the heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

As you have placed your trust in Jesus, you have been saved. The work that was too great for you has already been done. Don't let anyone trap you and don't trap yourselves with the fantasy that you have to do it yourself.

You can't! God already has!

With Paul we can declare, "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" Thank God for His strength and love!

Pastor Jim Berger