"A Limp"

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12

For some reason when I read this verse, I get a visual image of Jacob leaning upon his staff. If you remember the story he had an encounter with the Lord and walked with a limp from that day forward. It was during that encounter that Jacob's name was changed from Jacob- meaning deceiver- to Israel- meaning prince.

What a dramatic "transformation". To have God call you a "prince" when you were known as a deceiver. That certainly would have been quiet an experience, one no doubt that could have easily "puffed" him up. He could have become proud and arrogant. That wasn't God's plan for Jacob, so at the same time his name was being changed he received a limp. Though he was now a "prince", he had to depend upon the support of a staff to help him walk-- how humbling.

I think also about the Apostle Paul. He saw things that wasn't lawful for men to see. He was taken into places by God and shown things that could have easily puffed him up with pride. But again, that wasn't God's plan for him either. So, thus the "thorn in the flesh". The buffeting he received kept Paul humble.

When God is doing something through your life, when He is giving you revelation and insight, when He is using you in the gifts of the Spirit, when He is doing signs and wonders through you, when He is taking you "from glory to glory", the last thing you need to do is allow yourself to get "puffed up". Guard against spiritual pride-- it will cause you to fall. That isn't God's plan for you either.

We may be being used by God to bring Him glory, but we all walk with a "limp" (the inability to walk without help), thus having to depend upon a "staff" to hold us up. None of us can ever think that we can do it on our own. None of us can ever think that we can walk this walk by ourselves. None of us can ever think that we don't need God's help- we do. The Lord is the "staff" that supports us through our daily journey. Without Him holding us up, we will surely fall.

Have a great day. We all have a "limp"- the need for help and support. The Lord is that "staff" that holds us up.

For further reading:
Genesis 32:20-30
2 Corinthians 12:6,7
Proverbs 16:18
Psalm 23:4