Not of Us

Not of Us
Tuesday, February 04, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

2 Corinthians 4:5–7

We live in a world that constantly promotes self-reliance. We are told to believe in ourselves and find strength within ourselves. While that message is appealing, it is contrary to Scripture. God tells us instead to rely fully and completely on Him. God delights in using unlikely tools to accomplish His purposes. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27). We do not need more of us, but more of Him. It is His power that works in us to accomplish every good and lasting thing we do, not ours. Unless we lean on Him, we will fall.
Henry Frost, who served for many years as the North American director of the China Inland Mission, wrote, “When I first met Mr. Hudson Taylor, in London in 1887, I expected to see a man with a black beard and a full round voice. Instead, I found him a little man, with a blonde beard and a quiet and gentle voice. I immediately concluded that his power was not in his personality, but rather in God. As the years of my acquaintance lengthened out, this conclusion was increasingly confirmed. To the end of his life he won great victories with God and over men; but the secret was always communion with his Father in Heaven.”

Today's Growth Principle:
If we insist on working for God in our own power, we will not accomplish what He has set for us to do.