2 Corinthians 12:9 But he (Christ) said to me (Paul), “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (NIV)
James 2:17 “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (NIV)Â Â
A couple of weeks ago a friend met with me after The Next Step* and shared that he had made a bad decision and was now out of work, and out of money and had barely enough gasoline to get home. This is the same friend who had made a few bad decisions 18 months earlier and ended up living on the streets of Dayton as a drunk with a mindset that suicide was the only choice he had left.Â
God brought me to this man in early August of this year and from August until late October he had resurrected his life through counseling, church and 12 Step meetings. He got a new job and was overjoyed about mending his relationship with his kids.
During our conversation a couple of weeks ago, I could tell his heart was repentant and he knew he had made a mistake but most importantly he used what gasoline he had to take him to church for help. He was weeping while he told me how badly he had screwed up (he left his first job for a “better” job and proceeded to get layed off a day after taking the “better” job).  I know his fear came from his memories of how he handled the last time he left a job, (i.e. ended up becoming a drunk and homeless with a suicide plan).Â
The best part of this entire situation is the fact that he did not turn to alcohol for help but instead had turned to the church.
So I told him to follow me to a gas station and I would fill up his car for him under one condition and that was he was to go to an AA meeting that night and pray continuously for God to show him the way. He said he would do it.
Last night at The Next Step, my friend approached me with a big smile on his face and said “Jay you’re not going to believe what happened.” He proceeded to tell me how he followed my instructions and went to the AA meeting that night and began praying to God for help, direction and forgiveness. He then shared with me how he had used the full tank of gasoline I had given him to drive all day on the following Monday in search for a job. And lo’ and behold he got a new job on that Monday. Tears of joy were welling up in his eyes as he told me of this news.
There are many lessons to be learned from this story but there are two that are quite clear and they are both imbedded in the opening scripture verses above.Â
 1. 2 Corinthians 12:9–God cannot work with us if we don’t let him. This is the reason I get on my knees in “weakness” first thing every morning so I can receive his power. My friend showed his “weakness” to God by seeking help at church with a repentant heart for his bad decision instead of going to a bar in order to “justify” it. He continued to demonstrate this “weakness” to God by seeking help through 12 Step meetings, counseling and ongoing prayer…”I can’t, God can, I think I will let Him.”
2. James 2:17–God will not do the work for us but he will certainly fill us with the thoughts and the strength and courage to do the next right thing. It is up to us to do “it” and my friend did “it” after sharing his “weakness” with God by going out and looking for another job. Like it says in James 2:17…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
The “Magic Formula”…Die to self by surrending to God and seeking His will instead of mine (WEAKNESS) + doing the next right thing (ACTION) = GODLY RESULTS.
P.E.A.C.E.
*The Next Step is Ginghamsburg Church’s worship celebration for people dealing with addiction issues but is open to anyone looking for a party run by God on a Saturday night in the Dayton, Ohio area.
