“When we were yet weak, Christ at the right time died for the ungodly.” (Rom. 5:6) When we were still weak... when were we weak? The Greek word means weak, feeble, or sick. When were we weak, feeble, sick? Can you remember a time when you were sick? If you’ve not been sick for a while, that is reason to thank God. But if you can remember being sick, perhaps you can remember being weak.

     Nine years ago my appendix burst. After surgery and several days in the hospital, I was allowed to go home. After a day of sitting around the house, I thought just a short walk around our home would be something nice to try. Get some fresh air, a little bit of exercise. Just around the house once, no big deal. That turned out to be much more challenging than I had expected. I struggled to make it all the way around the house. A couple of days later, and stronger, I thought I’d walk down the sidewalk. Surely I was strong enough for that. I made it the length of 2 or 3 houses, and thought I’d better turn around. I was concerned whether or not I’d be able to make it back home. Even as I was gaining some strength, I was surprised how weak I was.

     When have you been weak? Do you remember a time of great weakness? “When we were still weak.” When we were still feeble, when we were sick. Whenever we were selfish with our time, or with our food, or with our love, we were weak. Whenever we have sinned, we have been weak. We’ve been weak because we did not resist temptation. We were weak because sinning causes sickness, weakness. We have been sick, weak, sinful human beings. This is what God says: “When we were weak, Christ died for the ungodly.” Being weak and ungodly are associated. Ungodliness produces weakness, no matter what it boasts or claims. Its boasts are false.

     When we were in such a miserable condition that we were weak and ungodly, Christ died for us. For us who were weak, Jesus went to the ultimate physical weakness... He died. That surely shows His love for us. He was perfectly healthy, unaffected by sin, because He never sinned. Yet He allowed Himself to receive our sins, and their consequences. He died for us. By this weakness, by His death, we have been justified, declared innocent. But think about it. If through His weakness, through His blood shed for us we have been justified, declared innocent, how much more will we be spared the wrath of hell through Him. (9) When we were enemies of God, weak, ungodly people, He reconciled us with Him through Christ’s death. How much more will we be saved by His power, by His life! (10)

     And not only that, but we boast! We boast in God! We boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have now received reconciliation. (11) Boasting is good as long as we don’t boast about ourselves.

     Do you remember the old cartoon character, Foghorn Leghorn? This rooster was a loudmouth who was always bragging about himself. People tried to ignore him, and he’d just talk louder. The character was funny because it was true to life, if a little exaggerated. We’ve known people who are so involved in themselves, they don’t think of anyone or anything else, except how it might boost themselves. They are always talking about themselves. Always bragging. That is sick, unhealthy.

     But maybe you’ve known another type of braggart. The kind you enjoy being around. Because he brags about you. He builds up people around him. He talks about what you’ve done, how you’ve helped. He brags about your abilities and talents. When someone brags about others, that’s a good thing. And when someone brags about God, that is a very good thing.

     Boast about God. Boast about how He loves you. Boast about how He sent Jesus to save you. Boast about how He has declared you righteous, boast about how He has given you life, real life with all it’s power, and everlasting life in Heaven where there will be no more weakness, no more feebleness, no more sickness, no more sin and ungodliness. Boast about God... about who He is and about what He’s done.

     And to whom will you boast? Well we can boast about God to one another. That’s good. But it’s also good to boast about God to people who don’t know Him. That’s what Jesus did. He was proclaiming the good news wherever He went. To every town and village He entered. And even that wasn’t enough. Jesus wasn’t going to be walking this earth much longer. So He deputized His disciples. You go boast about God, He said. Go tell the good news. And by the way, heal. Those two things go hand in hand. Telling the good news, and healing. Each takes care of weakness, doesn’t it. Tell the good news about Jesus, and that’ll take care of the weakness of sins. God works through His word. He brings people to faith through His word. And that is the way that the weakness of sin is overcome. That’s a great way to impact physical weakness, too. Boast about God. Trust in Him. Call upon Him. And even if we aren’t yet physically healed, His power is sufficient for us.

     Boast about God to one another, boast about God to people who don’t know Him. Tell them the good news. And boast about God to God. Praise Him. Shout happily to the Lord! Serve the Lord cheerfully. Come into His presence with a joyful song. (Psalm 100:1,2) “Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving, come into His courts with a song of praise.” (4a) Boast in Him who showed us His love by dying for us while we were still weak, and sick in our sins. He made Himself weak all the way to death, even death on a cross. Live in His power. Spread His power by telling the good news. Boast in the Lord. Praise His holy name!

June 12, 2005

 

We’re Weak. God Is Strong. Boast in Him!

Scripture references: Romans 5:6-11, Matthew 9:35-10:8, Psalm 100

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