My wife and I walked past an eager beagle, anxious to jump up in a Jeep Wrangler, but clearly uncertain his legs would take him there. He seemed to be saying, “The spirit is willing, but are my legs long enough?”
As the owners of a Gordon Setter whose legs are long enough, but who has no desire to ride in a car, we were impressed with the beagle’s willingness. Picking up a 78 pound Gordon and hauling her into a car is no simple feat!
Much of the health and wealth gospel trades in ridiculous promises that suggest that the only difference in the stature of a beagle and a Gordon has to do with faith.
The net result is borrowed guilt and embarrassment at having Gordon length legs.
The reality, of course, is far more complicated. You can have the legs of a Gordon, but if you don’t have the faith that the car ride will be a good thing, you will balk. If you are an eager beagle, but you have four short legs, all the willingness in the world will not change matters. And in between there is an endless variation in faith and legs.
The Christian faith is incarnational. We are asked to believe, dare, act with courage — but we are flesh and bone, tall and short. God does not expect you to ignore those constraints.
Have faith, honor your limitations, know that God loves you.
My beautiful Alaskan Malamute, Maple, and I go out the door for a walk at the crack of dawn. But no matter if it is still slightly dark like this morning when we left there is always someone (usually more than someone) who admires Maple and states she is the most beautiful dog they have ever seen. And I graciously say “thank you”. I have begun to wonder why I say “thank you” when I had nothing to do with her creation. I tell Maple daily that she is the dog of the Kingdom, the lead dog of Jesus, and when He wants to pet His doggies she will lead them in to sit at Jesus’ feet. After all He made her very Alpha.
But back to all these compliments she gets – Maple doesn’t know anything about them. She is always glad to give somebody a kiss and that is her way of being friendly. But she does not know how stunningly beautiful she is.
My point is that perhaps Christians should be a little like Maple. Reflect the glory of God and be sure we are reflecting the glory of God. We are after all insufficient within ourselves to do anything. Apart from Jesus what can we do? Let us be glad to belong to His family and give God all the glory!