The Crutch part 4
There's a story in the Old Testament of the Bible that says what I'm trying to say better than I can. It's found in Exodus chapter 17. It's about a battle between the people of Israel and Amalek. In this story, whenever Moses raised his arms the people of Israel would prevail. But whenever he lowered his arms Amalek would prevail. Now watch this, "Moses' arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset" (Exodus 17:12 NLT). Did you catch that? Not even Moses could do it himself. His own strength was not sufficient. He needed help. He needed someone to hold him up. He needed a crutch. And look who answered the call: Aaron and Hur. Two PEOPLE. God works in mysterious ways, because God works through PEOPLE. God holds us up by sending people to hold us up! And when we are standing tall... we can hold other people up. Remember Jesus said we would do the same works He did and greater works... if we believe. Because it's not about what you do. It's about what you believe. If you're trying to fix your behavior you're putting the cart in front of the horse. You've got it backwards. Behavior modification never leads to lasting results. Because it's outside-in. And outside-in isn't real. You can't let what's outside dictate what's inside. It has to be the other way around. What's inside comes out. When you know and believe that it's in there. When you know who is holding you up... that's when you can hold others up. When you know you're forgiven, that's when you can forgive others. When you know that you are loved, that's when you can love others! The crutch--that people think proves weakness--is really inner strength. God's weakness is stronger than our strength. And His strength is made perfect in our weakness. When we stop trying to do it ourselves, that's when God has room to operate. I believe He'll let us try it ourselves. But I always believe He's right there with a helping hand when we stumble. A still, small voice inside of us correcting us when we turn to the right or the left. Keeping us on that straight and narrow path that leads to life. And, again, when we know the way... we can show others the way! Not by condemning them because they make mistakes. But by bearing their burdens with them. Standing shoulder to should with them and holding their arms up. Everybody messes up. Everybody makes mistakes. And everybody needs help. We HAVE BEEN helped, and that means we CAN help! We don't look down on people, unless we are reaching down to help them up. It's not condemnation. It's love. And it's not just what we do... it's who we are!