2021 Daily Devotion - Day 309
The story is told of a 10-year-old boy who decided to study Judo, despite the fact he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese Judo master. The boy was doing well, but he couldn't understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move.
“Sensei,” (teacher) the boy finally said, “Shouldn't I be learning more moves?”
“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know,” the Sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.
This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened. “No,” the Sensei insisted, “Let him continue. I assure you; the boy will be fine.”
Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake. He dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.
On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. "Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?"
The Sensei answered, “You won for two reasons. First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of Judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left wrist, and you, obviously, don’t have a left wrist.”
I am sure the other boys who tried to win thought it would be easy because he was missing his left arm. I think the same is true for many who look at Jesus and ask what good is He? Here is how the Apostle Paul describes it:
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ESV
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Paul was a highly educated man. He could have spoken to them in a very erudite manner but didn’t. This is because He knew Jesus. Jesus had transformed his life and he was forever changed. Even in his day, there were those who disregarded the cross of Jesus and called it foolishness. But Paul responded to them saying the cross of Jesus was the power of God unto salvation (I Corinthians 1). So just as a young boy without a left arm was considered weak and vulnerable, so too, Jesus was and is considered the same by many. And yet, His perceived weakness is all the strength you and I will ever need. Trust in Jesus and His Cross and Resurrection.
Pray with me:
Lord Jesus, many have considered You foolish, but Your resurrection proved them wrong. Help us to see what the world calls weakness is the eternal strength we need each day. In Your holy name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
“Sensei,” (teacher) the boy finally said, “Shouldn't I be learning more moves?”
“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know,” the Sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.
This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened. “No,” the Sensei insisted, “Let him continue. I assure you; the boy will be fine.”
Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake. He dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.
On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. "Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?"
The Sensei answered, “You won for two reasons. First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of Judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left wrist, and you, obviously, don’t have a left wrist.”
I am sure the other boys who tried to win thought it would be easy because he was missing his left arm. I think the same is true for many who look at Jesus and ask what good is He? Here is how the Apostle Paul describes it:
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ESV
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Paul was a highly educated man. He could have spoken to them in a very erudite manner but didn’t. This is because He knew Jesus. Jesus had transformed his life and he was forever changed. Even in his day, there were those who disregarded the cross of Jesus and called it foolishness. But Paul responded to them saying the cross of Jesus was the power of God unto salvation (I Corinthians 1). So just as a young boy without a left arm was considered weak and vulnerable, so too, Jesus was and is considered the same by many. And yet, His perceived weakness is all the strength you and I will ever need. Trust in Jesus and His Cross and Resurrection.
Pray with me:
Lord Jesus, many have considered You foolish, but Your resurrection proved them wrong. Help us to see what the world calls weakness is the eternal strength we need each day. In Your holy name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
Comments
Post a Comment