How to Keep Your Limitations from Defining You

Locked in house prison, Paul refused to let his situation define him. He refused to let the limitations of his circumstances keep him from partnering with God to advance his love in the world.    

I hope in the Lord to send Timothy to you soon,

so that I too may be cheered by news of you.

For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.

For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

But you know Timothy's proven worth,

how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel,

I hope therefore to tsend him just as soon as I see how it will go with me,

and I trust in the Lord that shortly I will come also. 

I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus 

my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier,

and your messenger and minister to my need,

for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 

Indeed he was ill, near to death.

But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also,

lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

I am the more eager to send him, therefore,

that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.

So receive him in the Lord with all joy, 

and honor such men, for he nearly died for th eowrk of Christ,

risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Philippians 2:19-30

Paul lived in Christ.  His affections were rooted in Christ.  His thought life was centered on Christ.  His encouragement to the people he loved and led was to walk in Christ.  He didn't allow his limitations define him.

Regardless of the very real challenges of our lives, we don't have to let our limitations define us.  Here's how: 

1. Hope in the Lord

Is Jesus your hope?  Hope in anything less than Jesus will disappoint.  Your situation may not get better.  But, 

~if you can cherish Christ in the pain, the sorrow, the disappointment.~if you can fix your eyes on Jesus in the now,~if you can see beyond your current reality to a much better Day,

you will have a hope that will not disappoint. Is Jesus your hope?  

2. Trust in the Lord

Is Jesus your trust?  Trust in anything other than Jesus will confuse. Solutions may come in many shapes and sizes.  But, 

~if you can take your thoughts captive,~if you can allow God to give you his perspective (Romans 12:2)~if you can seek the mindset of Christ,

you will have clarity to test and approve what God's will is, his good and perfect will.  Is Jesus your trust?   

3. Welcome in the Lord

Are you Jesus' welcome?  Welcome in any name other than Jesus will ultimately discourage. Bandaids for people's problems may fix the presenting problem.  But,

~if you welcome in Jesus' name
~if you offer water in Jesus' name
~if you adopt orphans in Jesus name,

you will do more than feed a weary traveler.  You will be the welcome of Jesus in a broken, hurting, and needy world.  Are you Jesus' welcome?   

When you live in Christ, regardless of the challenges of this day, of your circumstances,

when your heart is turned to God,
when your mind is tuned to God, and
when your arms are open to welcome in the name of God ...

your limitations won't define you. Even in the midst of your challenges, you will be an agent of God's love in the world.

We've been Riverside for nine weeks now.  Can you believe it? If you've been here all along, or if you're just joining us today,  I would love your help as we begin Philippians 3 next week.  Can you email me at cynthiafin@gmail.com or leave a comment and let me know what you like about Riverside?  What questions you have?  What you'd like to see more of, or less of?  I'd really appreciate it!