Grace for Progress: The Uniqueness of our Warfare
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments…, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2Cor 10:3-5)
Progress in life is everyone’s desire and much effort is devoted to programs and activities to this end. It is also the desire of institutions and governments, and all evaluation measurements are primarily aimed at ascertaining that progress is happening, or finding ways of making it happen and continue. Think of a journey, or more frighteningly think of a war: all those involved want to hear the news that we are getting closer to the destination or to victory. And so, every tool available to make progress should be employed. Some of us are just starting this phase of the academic journey while some are closer to graduation; still others after one or two degrees are still seriously on the career development journey. We all need to make progress, and Apostle John’s introduction of Jesus Christ unveils one great tool every Christian must understand and embrace: grace upon grace (John 1:16).
In Paul’s journey, he describes the spiritual battles he encounters and the weapons of Christian warfare; he makes a distinction between the earthly battles and the one a believer is engaged in. There is a kind of strength that assures people of progress and victory: strong vehicles, great fighter jets, well equipped machine-guns, sophisticated tactics, big numbers of fighters, and all that. These have given progress in some wars, but disappointed in others. Paul’s weapons are in sharp contrast, yet very effective: “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds…” He writes this as he defends and vindicates himself from the charges of his enemies; as Albert Barnes comments, the stress of the argument is, that he did not depend on anything external to recommend him – on any “carnal weapons;” on anything which commended itself by the outward appearance. In his apparent weakness, he humbly yet surely progresses and goes to victory in his ministry career and in life by grace and his faithfulness to the God of his calling. No wonder his legacy stands tall up to today, while those who fought him are not anywhere.
On your journey, evaluate well the weapons you would like to employ. This message is to commend to you the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ by which you are able to progress to victory. Your journey is also surely a spiritual war – especially here in Kyambogo, and without the weapons Paul speaks about, you will only win partially or not at all, and never arrive at the destination God intended for you. As you work well and responsibly, I pray that God will give you abundant grace for progress.
God bless you!