What are your flaws? Your weaknesses? The places you struggle against sin?
I contend that many if not most of us are unaware of those weaknesses and, as a result, miss out on the opportunity to experience the power of God we all so long to experience.
Tim Keller reminded me of this reality:
But gifts and temperament in the service of idols—and this is our normal state—always are a mixed blessing. They have a good side—they produce virtuous behavior—but they lead the person into a corresponding sin or vice as well.
As a result, people cannot see their sins because they look only at their virtues. For example, someone may say, “I’m not abrasive, I just speak very directly.” It is true that a direct-speaking person may do good because direct, blunt comments are sometimes needed. But overall the abrasiveness is ineffective, and the person’s boldness and confidence comes to some degree from pride and a lack of love. And for this reason, many (or perhaps most) Christians do not work on the supernatural graces of the spirit that are not natural to us, and that mitigate or eliminate the dark side—the besetting sins—of our nature. (For the whole article, click here.)
What is the remedy? Keller gives three prescriptions:
1. Know that your worst character flaws are the ones you can see the least.
2. Remember that you can’t learn about your biggest flaws just by being told—you must be shown.
3. Be willing to listen to correction and critique from others.
Why is this important? Paul teaches in 2Corinthians 12:1-10 that the way we handle our weaknesses determines our experience of the power of God in our lives.
Sounds pretty important to me.
