Real Strength

Real Strength

Bible: Matthew 20:20-28

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant (V.26).

No one wants to make mistakes or look stupid, so we find ways to look like we’ve got it ‘all together’. Maybe we play up our strengths, like showing off how smart we are when we get good marks. Or perhaps we set up a front of being happy and chatty, even though we feel uncomfortable a lot of the time. But even though these things make us look strong, we know
we’re not really.

When we are truly strong, we’ll feel confident enough to admit our limits and our need for God. As a result, true strength often looks a lot like weakness. When Paul prayed that a problem would be taken away from him, God answered, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 COR. 12:9). Paul then said these strange words: “When
I am weak, then I am strong” (V.10).

Towards the end of Jesus’ time on earth, some of His friends were arguing about who was the greatest. Jesus used their argument as an chance to teach them that in His kingdom things are different: greatness comes when we accept that we are not the greatest and put others first
(MATT. 20:26).

This is a hard truth. I prefer pretending to be strong than admitting I need help. But God wants us to realise that true strength comes when we stop trying to control things and start relying on God instead.

GOD’S GREATEST POWER IS SHOWN IN OUR WEAKNESS.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries