by David Brenneman
"The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?" Exodus 4:11.
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it." 1 Corinthians 12:4-27.
There are those who accept how they were born and those who do not. Those who ridicule those born certain ways and those who wish they had never been born at all. There are those who spend a lifetime trying to understand why people aren't born "normal" and some just look past what is for what's under the surface in people.
Some of the sweetest people are those whom have not been born as supposedly normal as they whom are in the rest of the world. God DOES watch over them in special ways.
For some, and I have concluded that in Christ what was for Paul is the same for me, they are given their own thorn in the flesh to keep them from exalting themselves.
For some, they will not know the full extent of the reasons why until they stand before Jesus.
Some, to whom much greater grace has been given, they still had turned from the truth of God concerning themselves. Living a life of utter defiance towards their Creator.
The extremely sad reality is these will wake up in Hell as those raging at God when it was themselves that delivered themselves to their eternal punishment.
I was born differently from most people by way of birth defects, both seen and unseen. It's been a challenging life adapting to things that most people take for granted. However, it's been clearly shown to me in these latter years that "my grace is sufficient, for power is perfected in weakness".
Some whom are in a position of less than desirable circumstances, be it physically or mentally, rage at God for the way they are.
Just as we started reading that Moses was told, so it is for all.
We have our personal path in Christ to walk and we have our place in the body of Christ to fully fulfill. There's the workmanship we are in Christ to consider. "We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them." Ephesians 2:10.
Whatever or however people are born this passage remains the same.
"And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
Equally sad is there are those whom do not acknowledge the hand of God in these special people. Some will find themselves eternally separated from them after Christ returns because of their staunch unbelieving hearts.
Another amazing thing to me is what the Old Testament says about people with infirmities such as my own. People with just what I have weren't permitted to come in service.
"Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron, saying, ‘No man of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect shall approach to offer the food of his God. For no one who has a defect shall approach: a blind man, or a lame man, or he who has a disfigured face, or any deformed limb, or a man who has a broken foot or broken hand, or a hunchback or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye or eczema or scabs or crushed testicles. No man among the descendants of Aaron the priest who has a defect is to come near to offer the Lord’s offerings by fire; since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the food of his God. He may eat the food of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy, only he shall not go in to the veil or come near the altar because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries. For I am the Lord who sanctifies them.’ ” Leviticus 21:16-23.
However, in Christ, I CAN approach my Savior and Lord because of what He did for me in becoming my Savior. Because of His finished work on the cross of calvary, I can boldly approach the Throne of grace.
"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16.
Lastly consider these words.
"For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.” Matthew 19:12.
"Born that way from their mother's womb".
Nobody is humanly to blame for the way people are born.
People who intentionally kill the unborn will stand before Jesus some day charged with murder.
For myself, and seeing the potentially egotistical person I could easily have become, as for Paul so it is for me, I was given what I have been in order to keep me from exalting myself.
For others it can be any number of reasons. God only knows the true why's behind everything in everyone's lives.
It is upon all to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and to not lean on our own understanding. That in all things acknowledge Him and He will make our paths straight.
There's many in the Bible whom were given infirmities that as we even read them today it makes no earthly sense. Why was Jacob intentionally wounded by the Lord after wrestling with him? Why was Job put through literally from his perspective Hell on earth? Why was it necessary to blind Sampson before his death?
It's on me and on all to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not to lean on our own understanding.
To love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and spirit.
To give of our best to our Savior and Lord every day until that day He makes everything right.
Sin is why birth defects happen but as Jesus reminded His Disciples...nothing is impossible for God. Humanity has little difficulty in establishing the impossible and refusing to look beyond what could be. Moses, in spite of directly seeing the first miracles personal, tried getting out of serving the Lord because he couldn't see beyond the things he held as being impossible.
You might be struggling with understanding others in unique situations physically or mentally.
God's grace extends from us towards such people. Grace was extended to us from the beginning of our coming to Christ for salvation. His unmeritted favor bestowed upon us. His power WILL be perfected in our weaknesses if we but believe Him.
While physically I and others are disqualified as priests unto the Lord, in Christ I enter into His presence every single time that I pray. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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