The Daily Word of Righteousness

God's Purpose in Man, #3

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (II Corinthians 12:9)

God answered Paul's three petitions: "All you need is My grace. The chariot will keep going. Ride with me. Do not trust your own strength and wisdom."

Easier said than done. Do we dare to let go and trust God for everything?

"My strength is made perfect in weakness. How can I be strong when you are strong? Your next move will be to travel around the cities and towns telling them how you were caught up to Heaven. You will make a big mess because you do not know what you are doing. So just sit back in the chariot and enjoy the ride. Then My strength will take over. Okay?"

Paul's response: "Okay with me. If I have to be afflicted in order to see your power at work, then I'm going to find the softest pillow in this chariot and trust you to make my affliction bearable. I'm not going to fret about my helplessness and make matters worse than they are. It's Your Kingdom and I know by this time that You are more interested in the people than I ever could be."

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (II Corinthians 12:10)

To take pleasure in trouble, weakness, and pain because our weakness bring's Christ's strength is a mark of maturity. Eventually we may find pleasure in being made weak because our weakness forces us to look continually and only to God for success in what we are endeavoring to do. We no longer are able to work for God. We have to wait until God works so we can work along with Him.

The true man or woman of God becomes content to work with the Lord instead of for the Lord. There is rest in this.

Why does God labor so diligently with us until we are compelled to rest in His wisdom and strength? It is because God is preparing eternal chariots—personalities through which He can work His works for eternity.

The Chariots of God

The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary. (Psalms 68:17—NIV)

Here is a marvelous passage of the Scriptures. We employed the New International Version for verse 17 because the term angels, as found in the King James Version, does not appear in the Hebrew text. The chariots of God are not angels but people.

"The Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary." The passage is referring to the Temple of God, the chariot of God, the human personality. This is God's rest forever.

Have you ever noticed the last verse in the Book of Ezekiel?

It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, the Lord is there. (Ezekiel 48:35)

"The Lord is there"! Where each "man" is, the Lord is there.

To be continued.