but [God] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

One of the many blessings of being here in Tarboro is the generosity and wide-open spirit shown by the people at Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church.

The Tuesday morning men’s Bible-study I attend, for example, welcomed me from literally the first day we arrived – and they have even asked me to help with the teaching.

Today we looked at the fourth character in a series we’re doing around the question, “What does it look like to be a Christian man ‘made in the image of God?'” I’m using a little book titled “In God’s Image.”

• First, “Jesus” a model in COMPASSION
• Then the disciple “Andrew” – someone who exemplified PURPOSE
• Third “James” showed leadership through INTEGRITY
• Today we talked about VULNERABILITY, looking at both Jesus and Paul

Vulnerability:

It was a good conversation. We spent some time considering what Paul could have possibly meant when he said that he was “content” in the face of calamities…?

We made the huge distinction between the dangerous lie taught by the Prosperity Gospel (that “God’s favor” steers us around hardship, and calamity is caused by our lack of faith) and the beautiful truth that God promises to be with us in the struggle (“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.” – Psalm 23)

Vulnerability reveals the truth about our need and allows us to rely on God’s strength rather than insisting on our own. The opposite is building a wall around ourselves and our emotions and our vulnerabilities and our need – our need for whole relationships, not only with God but with one another.

A Broken Heart:

This story comes to mind: When my dad had extensive bypass surgery the operation ran two hours longer than advertised. “Doctor Smith” came out to chat. “For some reason,” he said, “maybe pericarditis or some unknown infections long ago, the sac around your father’s heart calcified. It took a lot of extra work to get access; it was like working our way into a walnut. That’s why the surgery took so long.”

Rebekah looked at the doctor with understanding. “So, Doctor Smith, you’re saying that in order for David’s heart to be healed it had to, first, be broken…”

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise. – Psalm 51:17

If we are going to experience the kind of healing that God has for us, then we cannot keep our hearts and souls in calcified shells; even if we feel safe inside our defenses… especially if we feel safe inside our defenses.

“Spirit of the Living God, Fall afresh on me. BREAK ME, melt me, mold me, fill me. Spirit of the Living God, Fall afresh on me.”

Later versions take away the breaking: “Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me….” Yes, I like the idea of “use me” – but I believe we are much more likely to be used by God if we are willing, first, to be broken.

And this is even more true if, like my father’s heart, we intend to be healed. – DEREK