You may have heard the story of a little boy who went to the grocery store and asked the clerk for a box of Duz detergent. (Make it Oxydol, Dash, Bold, Rinso, or Tide if your too young to remember Duz)
The clerk said, “Son, what do you need detergent for?
The little boy said, “I want to wash my dog.”
The clerk said, “Well, son, that Duz detergent is pretty strong for washing a little dog.”
The little boy said, “That’s what I want.”
The clerk said, “Alright,” and sold him the Duz and he said, “Now, you be careful when you wash your dog. That detergent is very strong; it might kill him.”
The little boy said, “I’ll be careful.”
He took the box of detergent home. About a week later the little boy came back to the store and the clerk recognized him and said, “Son, how’s your dog?”
And the little boy said, “I’m afraid he’s dead.”
And the story clerk said, “Oh, I’m sorry, but I did try to warn you that the Duz was pretty strong to wash your dog with.”
And the little boy shook his head and said, “I don’t think it was the Duz that did it. I think it was the rinse cycle that got him.”
Sometimes it feels like we’ve been through the “rinse cycle”, doesn’t it? Well, God knows all about “rinse cycles.” One killed his only begotten Son. His Son was washing from sin those who would believe in Him.
Paul survived several “rinse cycles” in his life. In 2 Corinthians, Paul talks about the difficulties he was having to endure. In chapter 10, his opponents in Corinth bragged about their visions and their extraordinary spiritual abilities. Then, they questioned Paul’s ability. They talked badly about him. In 10:10, “For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive, and his speech is contemptible.” He’s weak! His public speaking is despicable!
Paul wouldn’t play their game. Instead, he started bragging about his hardships and suffering (2 Cor. 11:24-28). Even though Paul had visionary experiences that were more spectacular and real than anything his accusers could claim, he refused to “boast” about anything except his weaknesses (12:5).
We all need to be reminded that the Christian life is not difficult it is humanly impossible. That’s right, it is impossible to live the Christian life in human strength. If we arrogantly boast and try then Ken Hemphill says the strategy will result in both pride and discouragement – pride from the false assumption that we can actually do it on our own, and discouragement from the stark reality that we can do nothing apart from Christ.
The “rinse cycles” of our lives make apparent the weaknesses of our human flesh. Have you found, like Paul, that as you admit the weaknesses of your humanness that you find an abundance of strength in God. Our weaknesses become a platform from which God can show His glory and mastery over all things.
As we continue to recover from the hurricane and the pandemic, remember, we may have gone through a “rinse cycle” but it didn’t kill us. God sustained us. The experiences may have brought to light our human weakness, but that puts us in a perfect position for God to do something wonderful! Paul declared that he was content with weakness, insults, distresses and persecutions and difficulties for Christ’s sake, for when he was humanly weak then he was a strong tool in God’s hands. Idea! Maybe we should be bragging (not poor mouthing) about our weaknesses –like Paul?
Pastor Stephen
P.S. Please continue to pray that God will supply our need for teachers…especially children’s teachers. Summer is quickly approaching, and we are weak in this area! May God make us strong.
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