Recently, in the heat of summer, a little mouse snuck into my house. I watched it limp frantically across the floor, as our big cat, Lily, chased it under a chair. Lily had already wounded the tiny critter, and it was hobbling along as fast as its wounded little leg would allow. I named it Mephibosheth, from the Biblical account of Jonathan’s crippled son whom David took into his household, after the death of his father. Being crippled limited Mephibosheth’s abilities, but David did not care about the handicap, in fact, he didn’t even ask how severe it was. He extended the lovingkindness of the Lord to the crippled boy and gave him a place of honor and purpose, with no regard to his weakness or limitation.
Fear drove the little crippled mouse, Mephibosheth, across the floor, under the chair. His weakened condition made him an easy target as Lily bounded toward him. What used to be strong and dependable—his four legs—were weakened, wounded, and undependable, but he kept running.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage… They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion (Psalm 84:5, 7 NKJV). When we come to the end of our own strength and turn to God to take over with His strength, we tap into a supernatural type of strength and ability to face the most difficult situations and circumstances! The word “strength” in Psalm 84 refers to God’s strength which calls on a force—an army, a host—of might and power. When the Lord of Hosts (angel armies) brings His strength to our crippled, weakened attempts at victory, we are infused with His power and might. He graciously extends His lovingkindness and strength to us and gives us a place of honor and purpose in His Body, with no regard to our weakness and limitation.
As we journey through life on a pilgrimage with Christ, we are able to keep running to safety, as Mephibosheth the mouse did, even when danger chases us or backs us into a corner. Taking others along on this pilgrimage encourages us even more, as individually and corporately we take on the strength of the Lord to overcome difficulties and obstacles. As we encourage each other, our strength and endurance to serve the Lord wholeheartedly and effectively grows from strength to strength. Remember, the scripture does not say, I can do all things through me who strengthens me; it says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). And, because the Lord’s strength empowers us, we can triumphantly proclaim, When I am weak, then I am strong! (2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT).
© 2020, Chris Werre