Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Jesus! What a Strength in Weakness!

The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him. Psalm 28:7

Jesus is our strength when we are weak. We can hide ourselves in Him, and take refuge at His right hand.

Wondrously show Your lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand from those who rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me. Psalm 17:7-9

In this life, we are tempted, we are tried, and we fail. There is no sugar coating it. Jesus has promised us that we would have trouble in this life, and we will. But the story doesn't end there.

The beautiful thing about Jesus as our strength in weakness is that Jesus has experienced every human emotion and has been through anything that we will go through.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Because of that, He can relate to us. And He can win the victory for us. Think about Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness. He was tempted for 40 days straight! And he wasn't eating. Surely a man who has been through that can sympathize when we are weak and need strength.

The Word also promises us that whatever we are going through isn't really all that special - whatever is happening is common to man! That would be enough to have me really dismal over the human condition. But it's the next phrase that is key. God is faithful.

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. I Corinthians 10:13

He will give us strength to endure it, and He will give us the victory. He will win the victory for us!

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:57

Jesus is a friend for sinners. A friend for us who are weak and need strength, who need refuge, who need victory. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, for You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress. Psalm 59:16


Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners!
Words by J. Wilbur Chapman

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.


Refrain
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him.
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my victory wins.

Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows over me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.

Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night overtakes me,
He, my Pilot, hears my cry.

Jesus! I do now receive Him,
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.