The Crutch part 2
Nobody can do it on their own. That's why God said, "...It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him" (Genesis 2:18 NLT). And, really, that's my whole point for today. When people look, scornfully, at God and accuse those who believe in Him of simply needing a crutch, they completely miss the truth that God works through people! And, listen, I'm not saying God ONLY works through people. There's a story in the Bible about God working through ravens to bring food to His prophet. God can do whatever He wants to do. I'm not trying to limit Him. I'm simply saying that the "mysterious" ways in which God often works is through people. Look no further than Jesus Himself. God literally BECAME a person in order to FINISH the work! And He said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father" (John 14:12 NLT). The work is finished, and now we can do the same work... and greater works! So let's back up and define what the work was. It was the cross. It was the greatest expression of love that a man can have. It was Jesus giving His life FOR us, and giving His life TO us. THAT'S what we can do for one another. We can help each other. God is the one who keeps us from falling. Which means we can keep each other from falling! Instead of trying to trip each other up... instead of trying to look better by making someone else look worse... we can esteem others better than ourselves. And to me that's what it means to be humble; not thinking less of yourself, but simply thinking of yourself less. Being Christ-centered (which means being people-centered) instead of being self-centered. We all NEED a crutch, and we can all BE a crutch. Remember, asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of wisdom. Knowing that we can't do it ourselves is literally the reason the Law of Moses was given. It was given as a school master to bring us to the end of ourselves. To bring us to Christ. To show us that no matter how hard we try... it's not about trying. It's about BELIEVING. And SEEING is believing. When we SEE the finished work, we will stop trying to finish the work. When we see how loved we are, we will stop looking for love in all the wrong places. We will stop trying to get something, and we will start giving (sharing) what we've got. I talk a lot about letting the mind of Christ (that's already in us) BE in us. This idea is found in Philippians 2:5. But if you look at the preceeding verse, the Bible tells us HOW to let the mind of Christ (that's already in us) be in us. Philippians 2:4, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." We "use" our crutch, if I can say it that way, by propping up others. By looking after others. By helping others. Because we can't do it on our own. We need a crutch. We need... each other!