The Blessing Of The Limp - Grace Is Amazing (Because We Aren't)

“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16, ESV)

“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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” (James 4:6, ESV)

When we think about or speak of grace, our minds often run to the hymn “Amazing Grace.” The writer, John Newton, was the captain and a crew member of several slave ships for years. When a storm threatened to sink the ship he was traveling on, he fell to the deck and cried out for God’s mercy. God spared his life, and over time Newton’s faith deepened. Years later, he became a rector at a church in London where he served until his death.

It was during his ministry that he wrote his beloved anthem to grace prompted by a study of 1 Chronicles 17:16-17: Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And this was a small thing in your eyes, O God. You have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations, O LORD God!”

“Who am I that God would show such grace?” asked King David.

“Who am I that he would do the same for me?” asked John Newton.

As widely shared as the story of the conversion of Newton and the penning of the famous hymn may be, there is one incident of his life that is lesser known. On one of his slave-trading voyages, Newton fell overboard. His crew detested him, so instead of tossing him a rope for rescue, one crew member threw a harpoon into Newton’s hip, and they hauled him aboard. Because of that injury, John Newton limped for the rest of his life. His broken gait and slowed pace served as an ever-present reminder of his former life and of a God who can rescue from both physical and spiritual deep, dark waters.

We see a similar idea in the book of 2 Corinthians as Paul shared a struggle with “a thorn in the flesh” (12:7). We do not know what the “thorn” was exactly as we cannot be dogmatic when the Scriptures are not explicit. Based on the terminology used, it could refer to a long-lasting physical infirmity, or perhaps it was a person who continually harassed the apostle by the prompting of Satan. Whatever the case, we do know that it was painful, ongoing, and used by God to keep Paul humble (12:7).

When Paul asked God to remove the “thorn” on three separate occasions, God’s response was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (12:9). The thorn brought immediate pain, but it was given for the ultimate good. The same is true for us. God’s grace sustains even when the suffering remains. God’s grace is sufficient to equip us for his purposes and bear us through (2 Corinthians 3:5).

Not only is God’s strength enough, but his power is seen most clearly in our lack of power. We tend to think of pressure as something to be avoided and our weakness as something to be overcome. But for our lives to display the glory of God’s grace, grasping our own weakness is not a liability, but a requirement. Like black velvet under a sparkling diamond, our weakness provides a dramatic contrast compared to the awesome power of God. We can then boldly say, just as Paul did, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (3:10) and see God’s grace shine most brightly in the shadow of our frailty.

We all need grace. When we receive it, God will allow us, in his mercy, the blessing of a limp as well. In our limping, we learn compassion. In our slowed gait, we are less likely to run ahead of God. Along our broken way, we will recognize others who need a measure of grace, mercy, and comfort as well.

We all need grace, and we all have a limp. And our limps serve as reminders that grace is amazing because we are not.

Reflection:

1. How have you seen God’s grace shown more clearly in an area of weakness in your life?
2. God’s grace is said to be both comforting and fearful. Grace comforts us in our weakness, but it also points out the severity of our weakness. How can we maintain the appropriate mindset of grace, remembering that God comforts us with his power, and yet remain humbly dependent upon him?