Strength part 3
I had to look this quote up, and then when I found it it was by an unknown author. But I thnk it goes along with what I've been trying to say: "It is said that the greatest warrior is the one who never has to draw his sword." That's the thing about true inner strength, you don't have to run around showing people that you have it. And, at the same time, you aren't AFRAID to prove you have it. I think people who try to convince you that they're trustworthy probably aren't. But I think people who ARE trustworthy won't get mad at you for needing proof. God's the same way. Every time someone asked God for a miracle to prove that He is who He says He is, God was happy to provide it. I'll use Judges 6:37-40 for my example, "Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry up all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground." Actions speak louder than words, right? And even though Gideon thought God might get mad at him for asking the second time... it seems like God just shrugged His shoulders and said, "Whatever you need, my son." Because that's what love is--giving everything you are and everything you have. Not holding it back because how dare someone need it! But seeing a need and filling it. In a relationship some people use the term "whipped" for someone who goes out of their way for their significant other. And that never made sense to me. Becuase isn't the POINT of HAVING a significant other having someone you're willing to do anything for? But we get it twisted when we think we are weak. When we are only out to try to get something we think we haven't got. Or when we're afraid of losing what we HAVE got. But there is no fear in love because perfect love casts out all fear. Love is strong enough to prove itself (Himself) over and over again without getting mad about it. Love is strong enough to give exactly what people need. Precisely because they need it. One of my son's (and my dad's) favorite superheros is the Incredible Hulk. And one of his taglines is that he's the strongest one there is. But the thing about the Hulk is that he doesn't go around looking for trouble. He wants to be left alone. In our analogy, love is the Hulk. The strongest thing there is. And love is patient, and kind. Love doesn't demand His own way. Love doesn't hold the wrongs of others against them. He doesn't look for trouble. But when He finds trouble, He's strong enough to endure it. To turn the other cheek. To let people be who they are, and still give them exactly what they need. Jesus fought the final battle on the cross. And He gave us the strength to lay hold of the fruit of the His labor. The fruit of the Spirit. Which is love. He gave us a gift--the gift of eternal life--and He gave us the strength to enjoy that gift. To live His life as He lives it in us, and through us, and as us!