Visible Vulnerability

nelly1508
Jul 27, 2016
7 min read

Visible Vulnerability

July 27, 2016

Read: Ephesians 4:2–6 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 43–45; Acts 27:27–44

Matthew 25:39 When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?' Matthew 25:45 Then the King will answer, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.'

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Be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

As I ventured out several weeks after shoulder surgery, I was fearful. I had become comfortable using my arm sling, but both my surgeon and physical therapist now told me to stop wearing it. That’s when I saw this statement: “At this stage, sling wear is discouraged except as avisible sign of vulnerability in an uncontrolled environment.”

Ah, that was it! I feared the enthusiastic person who might give me a bear hug or the unaware friend who might bump me accidentally. I was hiding behind my flimsy baby-blue sling because I feared being hurt.

Being honest about our struggles allows us to help each other.

Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable can be scary. We want to be loved and accepted for who we are, but we fear that if people truly knew us, they would reject us and we could get hurt. What if they found out we are not smart enough . . . kind enough . . . good enough?

But as members of God’s family, we have a responsibility to help each other grow in faith. We’re told to “encourage one another,” to “build each other up” (1 Thess. 5:11), and to “be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Eph. 4:2).

When we are honest and vulnerable with other believers, we may discover we have mutual struggles battling temptation or learning how to live obediently. But most of all, we will share the wonder of God’s gift of grace in our lives.

Dear Lord, many times my fear of being hurt keeps me from being honest about my struggles. Help me to remember how much You love me, and help me to be patient and loving with others.

Being honest about our struggles allows us to help each other.

INSIGHT:

Ephesus was a major and influential seaport city in the Roman Empire located near the Aegean coast in modern-day Turkey. It flourished under the reign of Caesar Augustus and is closely associated with the ministries of three prominent figures in the early church: the apostle Paul, who founded the church at Ephesus; his protégé Timothy, who served as pastor there; and the apostle John, who, according to tradition, returned to Ephesus to continue his ministry after his release from the Isle of Patmos. The church in Ephesus also played a significant role in the development of Christian Scripture: Paul wrote three letters to Ephesus that would later be recognized as inspired Scripture—one to the church (Ephesians) and two to its young pastor (1 and 2 Timothy). And John specifically mentions the church of Ephesus as one of the recipients of the book of Revelation (Rev. 2:1).

By Cindy Hess Kasper | See Other Authors

Our Daily Bread Topics: Christian Living Encouragement Living with Other Believers Love Relationships

Tags: encouragement, fears, obedience, temptation, vulnerable

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anoteinGodschoir

GIVE ME OIL IN MY LAMP

♫ Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning. Give me oil in my lamp, I pray. Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning. Keep me burning till the break of day. Refrain: Sing hosanna, sing hosanna, sing hosanna to the King of kings! Sing hosanna, sing hosanna, sing hosanna to the King! 2 Give me love in my heart, keep me sharing. Give me love in my heart, I pray. Give me love in my heart, keep me sharing. Keep me sharing till the break of day. (Refrain) 3 Give me joy in my heart, keep me singing. Give me joy in my heart, I pray. Give me joy in my heart, keep me singing. Keep me singing till the break of day. (Refrain) 4 Give me faith in my heart, keep me praying. Give me faith in my heart, I pray. Give me faith in my heart, keep me praying. Keep me praying till the break of day. (Refrain)♫

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psalm9v1

To samgaskill, js1985…After I read your comments to my post yesterday on the faithfulness of Daniel in his workplace, I realized that my comment “Note that Daniel did not go around trumpeting His faith, but waited until he was summoned” was not 100%...

psalm9v1

Nevertheless I still think Daniel did not spend his time “trumpeting” his faith in the pagan courts of the 3 kings he served but his lifestyle demonstrated it. He was so trustworthy and conscientious in his job that his jealous co-workers…Dan 6:4&nbs...

samgaskill

You’re a dear soul! Thank you! And your sharing and wisdom was a blessing! Have a wonderful day my sister! Mary

milehighbeliever

Wed.7/27/16 7:39 am. Amazing! Each and every new day, what a blessing to read from this devotion and all the comments from my fellow believers. Thank-you Cindy Hess Kasper perfect timing. I too had shoulder surgery very painful and still going th...

samgaskill

Thank you for the blessing and your joyful heart! So glad for the timely devotion in your life. No coincidence! May your healing be blessed, swift and complete! Have a lovely day my friend!! Mary

servant50

Visible, “able to be seen.” Vulnerability, “open to moral attack, criticism, temptation, etc.”

Be patient, bearing with one another in love.Ephesians 4:2

Being honest about our struggles allows us to help each other.

Now with all this said of what is seen, God is our refuge, savior, confidant, prince of peace and our all in all to help with our visible Vulnerability and our not visible. And it’s good to share our vulnerabilities to a Christian sister or brother in Christ or a close friend to whom we think we can trust. And if for some reason that trust is broken and your Vulnerability is out in gossip, than we still have and always will have God on our side who can fix it with you having the victory in Christ Jesus! HALLELUJAH! Because we all are vulnerable in some way or the other because of One Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one body, one heaven and one way!

samgaskill

Thank you! And if we are honest have we not also violated another’s privacy even without knowing. All fall short; all can be forgiven. God can bring His blessing upon it all! Might we dare to risk exposure and shed our self-protective nature! Hope ...

drdave

I read and reread Doctorperspective perspective , simply wonderful, then you guys may think then why ad to it. Sometimes I just get carried away, especially when addressing unity. I like the “seven”. One body—we are a single family unified fo...

samgaskill

What you add Dave, “get carried away with”, is this: That deep joy, intense excitement, heart so full it must express glory to God, and the eagerness to express thankfulness for such a glorious plan. One that brings us together across oceans, deno...

josy

So timely and skj1936, you are so right. Yesterday I posted that my son was leaving for Niger for anything from 2 to 5 years (he has taught in other countries, but I felt there was more possibility od danger here.). It took a lot to post that– in fa...

josy

one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all

samgaskill

Yes Josy, no matter where we go He is there! Even separated from our children (His) we remain together as Gods children under watchful eyes that do not sleep. He will not forget to comfort a mother’s heart; I will even though I will strive not to: )....

Forever His

Josy, I’m praying for your son safety and for God’s perfect peace in you life. -Patty

Newbeginnings

Heavenly Father, Thank you for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit that gives us patience, peace, and love. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for another opportunity to right our wrongs and to love our “haters”. Thank you for your blessi...

gregorymare

Luke 9:23 I believe that we must all pick up the cross of Jesus this is a heavy cross to carry if we want to be disciples of Jesus and part of vulnerability is carrying the cross. We are like sheep for slaughtered but the good thing about all this if...

holypat2014

Amen!

samgaskill

True, amazing really; the more we experience it the easier it becomes to “wear” ! Transparency, akin to vulnerability, can bring much to us and to others as well. Blessings friend.

crossman61

Thank You Father for giving us all another day . May we live it for You and others first . Thank You ODB for another great way to start the day !!! And Thank You to the good Doctor for the time you invest in the forum . There is 2 good Doctors now in...