“Safe is the new risky,” the speaker remarked. He was referring to the hidden costs of failing to incorporate people of diverse perspectives and ethnicity into the workplace, such as difficulty competing in a global marketplace. But I couldn’t help but think his point echoed the radically new perspective the gospel brings—that things are not as they seem and that there’s a hidden cost to not taking risks for the sake of the gospel.
That cost can be failing to experience the power of God through the “life of Jesus” in all its fullness (2 Corinthians 4:7-11). In His mercy (2 Corinthians 4:1), God has chosen broken, ordinary people like you and me to be the “clay jars” that carry the treasure of the good news. If we live “safe,” comfortable lives where we never really take risks—never bringing His love into the most broken places in our communities, never standing up against the injustices our culture normalizes, never trusting Him with our deepest fears—we can also miss fully tasting His love, joy, and justice. We can fail to really see the “glory of God . . . in the face of Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
The gospel invites us to “never give up,” to live with courage. But sharing God’s love to a world “blinded” to it is not easy (2 Corinthians 4:1,4). Even Paul in his deepest pain “despaired of life itself” (2 Corinthians 1:8 NIV). Through his suffering, Paul came to understand more deeply the paradox that as we experience suffering, we also experience the resurrection life of Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:10) and a taste of the day when an “eternal glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV)—the beauty of God’s future for creation—will be revealed for all to see. It’s in light of that reality that we can joyfully be ever-bolder witnesses to the relentless, death-defying love of our Savior.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 6:1-18
More:
Read Matthew 13:44-52 for three more images of the value of God’s kingdom.
Next:
Into what areas of brokenness in your community or church might God be calling you to bring the love of Jesus? What steps can you take to overcome your fears about being a part of addressing these needs?
ericjohnallas on July 1, 2017 at 2:58 am
God’s Strength in Our Weaknesses.
God is perfect and we are not, God is powerful apart from Him we are powerless God is infinite and we are finite,
God is our creator and we are His creation, He is the Potter and we are the clay. He is God and we are Humans not God we are dust but by His breath we are made alive. We are a work in progress and God is not finish on us yet. It is in our weaknesses that God shows His strength and might, so we will see His Perfect Power.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 9:12
We have all our limitations like a clay that is so fragile, easily broken but God is not limited on our limitations. There is a purpose on our weakness for it is in our brokenness that God is glorified.
But this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:3
It is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it. John 11:4
We have our flaws and we are broken although we will try to hide our flaws, our brokenness what we need is to be sincere to it we should come to the Light of the world let Him exposed our flaws for we are His Broken Vessel, our flaws are there for a purpose so that the light that passes through it the world would see the light.
What God pours out in the broken vessel let it flow so we can give it to others.
We need to be cooperative with His touch
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philipians 1:6
God specializes in turning weaknesses into strength.
Moses’ weakness was his temper. It caused him to murder an Egyptian, strike the rock he was supposed to speak to, and break the tablets of the Ten Commandments. Yet God transformed Moses into “the humblest man on earth.” Gideon’s weakness was low self-esteem and deep insecurities, but God transformed him into a “mighty man of valor.” Abraham’s weakness was fear. Not once, but twice, he claimed his wife was his sister to protect himself. But God transformed Abraham into “the father of those who have faith.” Impulsive, weak-willed Peter became “a rock,” the adulterer David became “a man after my own heart,”‘ and John, one of the arrogant “Sons of Thunder,” became the “Apostle of Love.”
“Who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies”
” Hebrews 11:33-34
Gary Shultz on July 1, 2017 at 6:33 am
Hi Monica: You are queen for the day, both ODB and ODJ, congratulations. Well, your right, areas of brokenness are where people looking for hope, or something they may not even be able to identify are. And, yes that is where we need to press into, by God’s grace. In the church, widows, widowers, single parents, and broken hearts. If you open the doors kids will come for different ministry opportunities. Once you tighten your belt with some of these needs, there is a world, so void of meaningful living and hope, they just sort of exist. Depending on where you live the underbelly of your local society can get rather dicey. I don’t know about you, but I think you need a plan, prep, and prayer before you waltz into some of those areas. We can start “little” work with those needs in the church and see if you can apply God’s grace to move into other areas. Please feel free to add your insights to this. Thanks Monica
Brands Monica on July 3, 2017 at 1:36 pm
Thanks, Gary! I thought it was cool it worked out that way, too – don’t think it was planned! Re – having a plan for how to engage some of the tougher issues: I think that is true, that it is wise to get counsel from people familiar with the issues, instead of “waltzing” in thinking we can understand and solve complex issues that may involve experiences and traumas we have never experienced. Yet it would also be a mistake, I think, to close our hearts off to experiences we think we can’t understand. I think part of this is about the church being a body — we aren’t called to carry the world’s sorrow on our own, but we are called to be part of a faith community that cares and is deeply engaged.
don777 on July 1, 2017 at 7:07 am
John 3:30 (NKJV) 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
I must surrender to Jesus. Let go & let God. On my own i can do nothing. My best works is filthy rags. +>i
Brands Monica on July 3, 2017 at 1:39 pm
Amen!
minkjh on July 1, 2017 at 2:17 pm
Monica, your exhortation to never give up beckons reflection on the effectiveness of evangelism in today’s climate. Judging by the current state of affairs it would seem we’re fighting a losing battle. The Word of God is crystal clear that this will not be an easy journey even when we follow the Lord’s instructions, but then we sometimes complicate matters when we insist on adding our own human remediation into the mix. Although many have no problem embracing a gospel-less WIIFM stance, we must continue to press onward and work to change not mere lives, but hearts, that are attuned to the Savior.
Brands Monica on July 3, 2017 at 1:39 pm
Thanks for sharing, minkjh – I actually think at least part of the cause of the failures of evangelism in today’s culture might have been that believers in the past were playing it “safe”–not working hard to communicate the gospel in a way that people understood with practical real-life implications, and at other times teaching emphases that were misleading. As our culture secularizes, I think we will indeed need to work harder and pray more deeply as we are thoughtful about how to reach a generation that has in many ways lost faith in the church.