"Only weak people follow Jesus." - Exactly!

"Look at my awesome power puny Jesus freaks!"

I'll freely admit I'm weak (my hand is raised).

And I'll freely say that I follow Jesus (hand still raised).

Who likes to admit they're weak? No one (unless you're a hypochondriac).

But millions who go to doctors and shrinks every day are basically admitting they are weak and need help.

Nearly 4 million viewers watch Dr. Phil every day - some seeking help. About 2 million watch Dr. Oz every day - some seeking help. And those who watch Jerry Springer? I have no idea what they're looking for.

But there's nothing wrong with admitting you're weak. This can actually be the first step toward gaining lasting strength.

The Surgeon of the Spirit

The world is starving for cures because the world is weak and sick and needs cured - spiritually and physically.

The world has fallen and can't get up.

But my question to you is this, "Will you go to the ultimate, completely free, no-insurance-required, no-appointment-required Doctor of doctors - Jesus?"

"Admit I am weak? Never!"

I've read numerous stories of people who knew God was drawing them to Himself. But they were worried about what their friends, co-workers, and family would say if they became a follower of Jesus. So they resisted and fought against God out of fear of appearing weak.

And this fight against God sometimes lasts for years. Some eventually come to Him after much resistance. Many are still resisting God's grace, love and power for their lives out of fear. Many will go to their graves resisting the One that can give them the greatest love and power they'll ever know.

No one should be ashamed to go to the Doctor of the Soul, the Healer of the Heart, the Surgeon of the Spirit.

What about you? Is God moving in your life? Are you resisting Him out of fear, shame, or some other reason? 

Would you care what others thought if you sought treatment for your cancer, or diabetes, or heart condition, or bunions? Probably not.

Your spiritual health is way more important than other people's opinion. It's your life - live it! 

Sink or swim or get in the boat!

Not realizing and not admitting your need for God is nothing new.

¹⁵ While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him. ¹⁶ When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples: “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹⁷ On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”(Mark 2)

Jesus' words to the self-righteous religious leaders went right over their heads. They thought they were the ones who were "healthy" and had no need of a spiritual physician. Were they right? Let's see. The Apostle Paul, a former self-righteous Pharisee and former hater of Jesus wrote this,

⁹ What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way! For we have before proved that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin. ¹⁰ As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; ¹¹ there is none that understand; there is none that seek after God. ¹² They have all gone from the way; they have together become unprofitable; there is none that do good, no, not one.” (Romans 3)

"I cannot swim."

Well, there you have it. We're all helplessly drowning in the deep waves of the disease of sin and spiritual sickness until we come into the safety of the mega-ship that Jesus captains.

Like Noah's ark was salvation from the flood, the ship called Salvation that Jesus' runs is your only hope to be rescued and healed from sin and its nasty side effects.

There's plenty of room in the boat for you, even if you're massively muscular.

Are you weak?

Maybe you don't think you're weak and need Jesus. Do you suffer from the disease of sin? Well, are you going to die? If so, then you're weak.

None of us have the physical or spiritual strength to sustain our own lives. We're mortal. When our time's up, we're totally powerless to resist death. But let's be honest - there are a lot more signs of our weakness and need than the fact that we're headed toward the grave.

But be encouraged - these weak, sin-ravaged bodies will be raised to new, immortal heights at the resurrection.

⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
(1 Corinthians 15)

You don't just go into the grave and that's it. Just as the awesome redwood tree comes from a tiny seed, your body is planted and will someday come forth as much more than the seed that was planted.

And who do you think is going to raise you? Jesus, the One Who lifted Himself out of death. Yes, you need Him.   

But what can you do now? You need strength now!

King David, the mighty warrior, cried out to God, "Lord, have mercy on me. I’m so weak. Lord, heal me. My body is full of pain" (Psalm 6:2). He realized his weakness and where his healing would come from. And God continually sustained him. He can do the same for you.

Copy and paste David's words into your life.

God chooses the weak

Notice in the story above at Levi's house that the self-righteous Pharisees weren't eating at the table with Jesus and the sinners. They were merely critical observers looking down their noses while the sick enjoyed the company of their Savior.

God works with the weak while being at odds with those who think they are strong and think they have no need of a crutch called Jesus. Paul wrote,

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before Him. (1 Corinthians 1)

The Apostle Paul had many weaknesses. And God sustained him through them. Sometimes God doesn't remove the source of our pain, but strengthens us through it with a supernatural level of strength we are unable to get on our own. Paul wrote,

⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12)

Nobody said life would be easy. But do you want to go through it with the power of Jesus on you or not?

He still makes house calls

Jesus isn't just sitting in His clinic twirling His stethoscope.

"I know you're in there."

He's actively coming to those who are sick and need Him. You don't have to set an appointment to see Dr. Jesus. And He won't fill you full of symptom-masking drugs with life-threatening side effects. He'll actually heal and strengthen you spiritually. He may even heal you physically. But your spiritual health is His main concern.

Some of us won't realize and admit our true weakness and need for The Doctor even on a deathbed, or as life fades away. Many won't see their need for God until the judgment.

It's good to admit you're weak. This relieves you from the stress of trying to be strong when you're not. Letting Jesus strengthen you and lift you up is much easier, because His strength is lasting. When we try to manufacture our own strength, it can cause us to become weaker through the energy it takes and the stress it causes. There's nothing wrong with being weak. We get into trouble when we think we're strong - then we don't seek the One Who is strong.

But all will eventually see their weakness and need.

Let this invitation from Jesus to all people sink deep into your heart - then just do it.

²⁸ “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11)

Isn't it time to lighten your load and connect with the true source of strength - Jesus?

Call out to Jesus now - "Lord, have mercy on me. I’m so weak. Lord, heal me. My body is full of pain."


Sincerely,
Wes

P.S. Share a story of how God has strengthened you.