Dear Christian friends:

You know that a deaf person often is more successful in his life and work than a hearing person. I know many very successful deaf people. Why?

Because of their handicap or weakness they are more careful and try harder, while often the hearing person is lazy and careless.

You perhaps remember the story of the turtle and the rabbit. The rabbit wanted to run a race with the turtle because he knew he could easily beat the turtle. The turtle, however, agreed to race with the rabbit. You know what happened. That often happens in life. It also happens in spiritual things.


They understand their great weakness. All are weak only some don't know it. This is the greatest danger. Peter didn't know it or believe it even after Jesus warned him. We also are like Peter. But if you know how weak and helpless you are before Satan and all the other temptations then you will be ready to look to God for help. How can we better understand our weaknesses? See what the Bible says.

Galatians 5:19-21, "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like."

Romans 8:7-8, "The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God."

John 15:18-19, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (Use the illustration of young people being misled by the world.)

John 8:44, "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him."

Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:10-11, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

When we think of all these things we ought to realize our weakness and danger. And if we realize our weakness that is half the battle. We should not feel to give up like some say, "I try and try to be good and do right but I can't I am too weak and Satan is too strong I better give up and stop trying. Don't give up and don't try to help yourself, but look to God.

"Be strong in the Lord," Paul admonishes. Don't try to be strong in yourself and brag about how strong a faith you have and that you will never fall. Don't trust yourself! Trust God to support you and keep you from listening to the many temptations of the devil, the world and your own sinful nature or heart.

Be strong in the Lord. Remember His Words and promises. When the devil tempted Jesus, Jesus answered his temptations by quoting to him God's Word. The devil cannot argue against God's Word that is truth; his is lies. So if you want to be strong in the Lord, you must know and use the Lord's Word. How much of God's Word do you know?

Be strong in the Lord means also to remember that Jesus is our Savior. Because of our sinful mind and deeds we often have a bad conscience. Our conscience blames us and bothers us and tells us that we are lost. Also the devil will tell us that God can't want us because of our sins. He tries to make us give up hope in God.

Then we should be strong in the Lord. Remember that Jesus Christ has died on the cross and shed His blood to pay for all our sins. Remember that God has forgiven all sins and all sinners because of His Son Jesus Christ who died for all and rose again on Easter morning.

Remember that by faith in Jesus Christ you are now God's children. And although you maybe have fallen into sin and wickedness which has hurt you terribly and others a sin which you will never forget, yet God loves you and forgives you.

A young girl fell into temptation in a weak hour after that she felt very ashamed and bad. For one year she thought that God can't forgive her. She was afraid and ashamed to pray and bitter. She did not go to church for one year. Finally the pastor came to see her and she asked him, "Can God forgive a sin which I can never forget?"

The pastor said, "Yes, Jesus has paid for all sins. Don't look at yourself, don't think about yourself. Look at Jesus Christ. Think about Jesus Christ. He is your righteousness. He is your Savior. Be strong in the Lord." After that the girl began to make a new life for herself. She found strength to go on and live for God.

I do not mean that she was perfect or that she never felt weak or tempted again. She did. But now she remembered Jesus' warning to Peter, "Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation." (Matthew 26:41)

You can be strong too if you are strong in the Lord. May God help us all to understand our weaknesses so that we will be strong in the Lord; not in ourselves. Then we can say with St. Paul, "When I am weak, then I am strong."

Amen.