Bible Society of South Africa
Hennie Symington

A journey of the soul – Day 12

God’s vulnerability empowers us

Se(di)ngolwa (t)sa Bibele

2 BAKORINTHE 12

8Ke rapetse Morena hararo hore ntho ena e tlohe ho nna, 9empa a re ho nna: “Mohau wa ka o o lekane, hobane matla a ka a phethahala ka ba fokolang.” Ha ho le jwalo, ke tla ithorisa ka bofokodi ba ka ka thabo e kgolo, hore matla a Kreste a tle a be ho nna. 10Ka baka leo, ke thabela bofokodi, mahlapa, ditsietsi, ditlhoriso, le mahlomola, ka baka la Kreste, hobane ha ke fokola, eba ke hona ha ke le matla.

2 BAKORINTHE 12:8-10SSO89SOBula ka mmadi wa Bibele

God’s vulnerability resides in the power of his love. Jesus’ life on earth demonstrates God’s very nature. Through God’s revealed love, we get to know a God who is ready to sacrifice himself and suffer for us. Through Christ’s crucifixion, he experiences the ultimate vulnerability.

How does this influence the way we share ourselves with others, our neighbours, strangers, the needy and with God himself? Be warned! Self-protection is not Jesus’ way of leading. He said, “The first shall be last and the last, first.”

We are called, therefore, to allow ourselves to be vulnerable in the world. Being human, we are not comfortable with being vulnerable. It exposes us to humiliation, hurt and even rejection while we are conditioned to do everything in our power to avoid getting hurt. We guard ourselves in our private and public lives, and do not like to expose ourselves. We fear rejection and being judged. Yet, vulnerability brings us closer to our fellowman. It is when we are at our most vulnerable, that we are most like Jesus. When we are at our weakest, we are at our strongest. In essence, it means by showing weakness, you allow God to take care of protecting you.

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