A friend sent me this over a month ago, and I finally took the time to read it. I hope it helps someone
Structural Weaknesses
This devotional was written by Dan Johnson
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not
know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself
intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
-Romans 8:26
My father taught me two important lessons about the human
condition. First, he taught me to be kind to others on the
journey because everyone is fighting a battle. Second, he
reminded me that every human being has a structural weakness.
Some of us struggle with greed, others fear. One person battles
lust and another pride. We each have an Achilles heel and we
keep it carefully hidden beneath a veneer of self-sufficiency
and success. Survival of the fittest teaches us to exploit the
weaknesses of others; Jesus teaches us to bind the wounds of
others, not revel in discovering them.
F.B. Meyer, a Baptist evangelist and pastor from England, once
said that when we see a Christian in sin, there are two things
we do not know. First, we do not know how hard he or she tried
not to sin. Second, we do not know the power of the forces that
attacked him or her. And who knows what we would have done in
the same situation.
To keep from feeling shame, we are often tempted to be more
aware of the faults of others than the glaring weaknesses others
probably already see in our lives. Jesus asked, "Why do you look
at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no
attention to the plank in your own eye (Matthew 7:3)?"
There is no doubt that structural weaknesses need to be dealt
with. In the material world, faulty engineering can prove
fatal. In the spiritual world, unchallenged character flaws can
be equally catastrophic. The goal is for each of us to be
healing agents who instinctively bind up the wounded, encourage
those who are beaten down, and restore those who have fallen.
Jesus Christ referred to His enemy, Satan, as "the Accuser." In
our haste to defend ourselves and our doctrines, let's be quick
to realize that each person we meet is trying to make a go of
their lives. Playing judge and jury forces us into a
self-righteousness that human beings weren't made to possess.
Instead, we have the opportunity today to be the Encourager.
When we see someone struggling, we can join our prayers with the
very prayers of God for His troubled saints. The great benefit
to living this way is that others will repay the favor with
mercy and so will God. Who can you encourage today?
