Man's Extremity / God's Opportunity
By Vickie G. Paver
Every trial we walk through is an opportunity for God to work in our lives and the lives of others.
In 'Seeing the Invisible,' A.B. Simpson wrote, "Into the body, whose constitution is exhausted and its springs of life run out, He can command health and strength. And so faith begins where human hopes and prospects end, and man's extremity is God's own opportunity."
What is your extremity today? Periodically, many of us face situations of great difficulty and overwhelming precipice. Situations that we are stuck in, with no way out, down, up or around! We have absolutely no control. It is out of our hands. These are what I like to call, since reading A. B. Simpson's book, God's own opportunity. It all sounds very spiritual, yet struggles still exist in the Christian walk.
In all "human" effort we try to get out of, struggle with and cry out against our trials. But, somehow God intervenes and allows us to see Him at work, despite our own weaknesses.
Man's Extremity: Paul and Silas jailed for preaching the Gospel. I like the response of Silas and Paul during their trial in jail. In Acts 16: 25, it states, "But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing in hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them." Wow! They were giving the prisoners hope while they were in the inner prison, in stocks!
As you read the whole story in Acts 16: 22-34, you'll see not only that they praise God in their trials, but also, that the jailer and his family came to the Lord and were baptized!
God's opportunity: Prisoners, probably well deserving of the imprisonment, see God working His joy and fulfillment first hand through Paul and Silas! Then a whole family comes to the Lord. How awesome is that?
God's own opportunities still exist today! As you run into those cliffs, feel like you are in a maze, with no way out, want to give up on life, THINK...in your most extreme trial, is an opportunity for God to show His power and glory, in the life of a mere human being. Now, I ask again. How awesome is that?
Romans 8: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (NKJV)
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