“The power of limits” - the words were painted
on a piece of modern art. I’m not really
sure what the phrase was supposed to mean but the words really did stir my
curiosity.
We don’t often think of limits as having
power. In fact, it seems the opposite is
usually true. Limits, well to put it simply,
limit. How can there be power in that? Even more so, power and limits seem to be
mutually exclusive.
And in trying to decipher it further, if the
opposite of power is powerless, then limits and powerless seem to be mutually
inclusive.
Mutually exclusive or inclusive? I’m not really sure but let’s explore power
and powerless and limits to see if some light can be shed on these things…
In the fifth chapter of Romans, we find that we are limited
in our ability to deal with our sins: “You
see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died
for the ungodly.” (Rom 5:6) While the assessment of our own lack of power
is quite blunt, the solution comes from a source totally outside of our selves. In fact, our own lack of power does not and
cannot limit the solution. What we
couldn’t do, He did!
Even after that issue has been resolved and, assuming we
have trusted in Christ’s work to take care of our sins, we still run into a
limit on our power: “I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open
door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and
have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” (Rev 3:8)
Again, when we lack power, our God, independent of our own efforts, can keep
a door open for our access privileges!
In fact, as we continually deal with our lack of power, our
God works to bring about His purposes to compensate for our own powerless state
and related limitations: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, that that
the power of Christ may rest on me.” (2
Cor 12:9)
And God does establish limits: “From one man he made every nation of the
human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the
fixed limits of the places where they would live.” (Acts 17:26)
And yet, within those limits established for us, God’s power is not
limited but is actually unleashed to bring about His eternal plans and purposes.
I know I haven’t really deciphered what the
phrase on the piece of art meant. But, in
shedding some light on the words, I can say that I am grateful that when I am
powerless (or have little power), God provides what I need. I am also grateful that He chooses to
demonstrate His power in and through my weaknesses. He does that out of His grace and I’m
thankful that I don’t have to earn it or do anything to deserve it!
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