Human Limitations
Tuesday October 21, 2014
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. (Romans 12:3 NIV)
One example of a person not being aware of his own limitation is recorded in the book of Matthew. The night before Jesus died he shared the Passover meal with his friends, including one of his closest companions, Peter. Then the group headed over to the Mount of Olives.
On the way Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” (Matthew 26:31, 33 NLT) Peter’s expectation of himself was that he would stay at Jesus’ side regardless of the actions of anyone else. However, on that very night, Peter denied three times that he was with Jesus or even knew him. To emphasize his denial he even swore at the bystanders. Peter left that scene weeping bitter tears of failure.
Peter meant what he said to Jesus but failed to do what he thought he could because he was relying on his own power. Oswald Chambers writes, “Every element of our own self-reliance must be put to death by the power of God. The moment we recognize our complete weakness and our dependence upon Him will be the very moment that the Spirit of God will exhibit His power.”
God invites us to live as the persons He has created us to be. His expectation of us is that we will use what we have been given and, with His help and guidance, do the very best that we can do in each circumstance. When we try to be like someone else, or live according to someone else’s standards, we are not following God’s plan for our life. Trying to be what God never intended us to be is a sure recipe for failure. God has wonderful plans for our lives and has the power to help us attain satisfying and meaningful goals. We must be willing to ask, "Lord, what will YOU have me to do in YOUR strength and in YOUR power?"
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. (Jeremiah 29:11-14a NIV)
God has good plans for each person’s life. Let’s ask Him to help us be the persons He’s created us to be and undertake to do the good things that He planned in advance for us to do.
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