Being one of the men on a list our church uses in setting up their services, I customarily prepare printed notes for my prayer thoughts. Recently a thought came to mind: Holiness Can Be Handicapping. I just let it swirl around for a few minutes and Jacob came to mind.

Whether it be tradition or perhaps a truth neatly hidden in the Scripture, some have come to believe that Jacob walked with a limp the rest of his life after that occasion when he wrestled with an angel. The story in Genesis 32:24-32 relates this patriarch as a man who was obviously not able to win a wrestling match with an angel, nor was Jacob a pushover for the angel (strange as that may seem). Jacob would not let go until the angel blessed him. In one stage of that wrestling the angel touched Jacob’s hip socket and that is the sum and substance as to why tradition holds Jacob walked with a limp the rest of his life.

Others saints were handicapped as a result of their walk with God. Job has to be one of the most popular of the plagued saints. After a casual discussion of the sons of God and the Devil himself was present as they all "talked with God". The Devil taunted God about Job’s faith by claiming, "No wonder Job is good, you have given him everything a man would ever want!" (A paraphrase of Satan’s comments.) Then came the time that would cause us to say, "God, if you talk with the Devil today, leave my name out of the conversation." The entire book relates an unusual story about a man who had everything taken away from him for no apparent reason — his children, his wealth and his health. His friends came to visit him and it doesn’t take long before we find ourselves thinking, "I sure don’t need friends like that." But Job survived! He not only lived through his handicapped life but somehow God gave him even more than he had lost.

The word handicapped is almost trite when you realize some individuals were ultimately killed for their faith (see the 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews). The Apostle Paul was sorely tried (tempted) in a way shrouded by a vague term, "a thorn in the flesh". We will never know this side of glory exactly what that thorn was but it was as real to Paul as if it had indeed been a thorn constantly sticking his body. It almost seems discomforting to find God did not give Paul any physical relief for that handicap but rather counseled him, "My grace is sufficient for you" – Paul, forget about your problems. Whatever Paul’s handicap, he carried it to his grave!

The quintessential handicapping holiness was when the perfect Son of God was shamed by our sins and God even turned His back on Christ because such suffering had to be borne alone! Every time we pray expressing our gratefulness for Christ dying on a cross for our sins it ought to be accompanied by a tear washing down our cheeks. Perhaps you experience a similar problem as I when singing certain hymns. There is one hymn in particular (the third verse) that chokes me up to the point of not being able to continue singing, and finally after just standing there with tears in my eyes until the verse is over, I have gained enough composure to finish singing that great hymn. ("When My Love to Christ Goes Weak" by J. R. Wreford.)

I certainly have no right to judge you if your holiness is not handicapping but I urge you to open your heart and mind to God, asking Him to use you in whatever way He sees fit. Perhaps one day you may also find holiness a bit uncomfortable if not handicapping.

THE WORDWRIGHT