Last Sunday I was taken with the comment by St. Paul to the
church in Corinth: “And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much
trembling.” (1 Cor. 2:3) Somehow I find it hard to picture St. Paul going
anywhere in “weakness,” “fear” or “much trembling.” In my mind's eye I picture
St. Paul as an imposing figure – certainly he was imposing when he was
directing the persecution of the followers of Jesus. Certainly he was imposing
as a rabbi in charge of orthodoxy. Certainly he was imposing as he traveled from
city to city, preaching the word of God even in the face of persecution.
So, how do I reconcile his confession of being weak and
afraid with the image of the imposing preacher from Tarsus? Well, the answer is
found in that old phrase, “Fake it ‘till you make it.” I have no idea where of
acting as if you have confidence – courage – strength, and that God blesses
that willingness and amazing things can happen.
I suspect that is true for me. If you’ve known me long, you
know that I never felt like I was properly prepared or equipped to be a bishop.
Every time I lead a retreat, speak in public, or address the College of Bishops
I think: “Who am I, to be here and address these people?” I find it miraculous that
God uses me to His Glory when I step out in faith and act for the Lord.
Ultimately, I suspect that a better phrase than the secular
“Fake it ‘till you make it,” is “Step out in faith as a servant of the Most
High God!” Over and over again in scripture, the people who step out in faith
are the ones who make a difference in history and in the lives of others,
because God uses them for His glory!
I think of Moses, who declared to God that he was no
speaker! I think of Peter, who upon meeting Jesus declares, “Depart from me
Lord for I am a sinful man.” I think of St. Paul, who declares he was weak and
approached in fear and trembling.
Thanks be to God for those men and for each one of you in
the Diocese of San Joaquin, who step up and step out in faith. It is when we
take those first steps that the Lord can use us, and indeed he does. All across
the Diocese of San Joaquin, the Lord uses our people to love those who feel
unlovable – to feed the hungry – to cloth the naked – to visit the sick and
dying with the Good News of Jesus Christ, who cried out to his father: “Father,
if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be
done.” (Luke 22:42)
How is the Lord calling you to ignore your weakness, your
fear and trembling, and step out in faith? I promise, if you do step up to the
plate, He will use you for His Glory!
I pray you all a very blessed week!
Thirty-nine
Articles of Religion
XII. Of Works before
Justification
Works done before the grace of Christ, and the Inspiration
of his Spirit, are not pleasant to God, forasmuch as they spring not of faith
in Jesus Christ; neither do they make men meet to receive grace, or (as the
School-authors say) deserve grace of congruity: yea rather, for that they are
not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not but
they have the nature of sin.
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