Power Points
By Mike Rule

Tonight as I was being driven from an evening of fellowship back to my place of lodging, I spotted a church sign that said something like this: 

"Where we go and what we do makes a statement about who we are." 

Immediately the thought came; 

"What does this say about me when I go to the toilet?" 

As I shared that with the people who were driving me, one person commented that he would never see that sign the same way again. We all got a good laugh.

Upon deeper reflection this entire episode caused me to think about myself. My sick, warped, and sarcastic sense of humor has been a thorn in my side for most of my life. When I was younger I was known for being a bit twisted in my view of things and I could point out the ridiculous in cutting and crude ways. I have always been able to see through things to the ludicrous core and have not been bashful about pointing it out (much to the embarrassment of the people around me). To be honest, I've always hated that part of me.

Yet tonight the Lord showed me how that ability can be a gift from God and is a beautiful thing under the influence of Christ because He has given me the exact gifts I need to challenge the status quo of the Christian faith as it is practiced today. He has given me the ability to push the man-made boundaries that which hinder us from deeper intimacy with Christ. In the flesh my insight is awful, but in the Spirit it gives life. My greatest weakness is His strength in me. That sounds like something to boast in, doesn't it?

Verses for Reflection 

"Because of the extravagance of (God's) revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then He told me, "My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness." Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size--abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 MSG)