Years ago the Lord began to stretch me in my understanding of vulnerability. It proved to be a very significant redirect of some core character traits of mine. I came to understand that the very courage that I desired required the vulnerability that I resisted. Courage and vulnerability are two sides of the same coin. The title of this blog articulates that fact.

My willingness to yield to a spirit of vulnerability was due in part to my observation that Christ was not asking anything of me that he had not done himself. A scripture passage that I know well and adore captures this act of ultimate vulnerability.

Philippians 2:5-8 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Not only does this description of the sacrificial act of Jesus represent vulnerability, but it charges all of us who follow him to have the same attitude (v. 5). What greater illustration or motivation do we need? It has served me well as I have pursued a spirit of vulnerability.

This week as I was reflecting on this truth yet again, I felt the Lord awaken me to an even deeper understanding. It was as if the Lord was saying, "My greatest act of vulnerability was not dying on the cross. It was leaving my kingdom to others to see it come forth."

Let's just say, the Lord got my attention. What does this new revelation mean to me as a believer charged with joining the Holy Spirit to see his kingdom come? What does this new revelation mean to me as a pastor charged with equipping and releasing the saints for life and ministry? What does this new revelation mean to me as a father entrusted with two young men ready to take on the world?

I have been mulling over this insight all week. I believe it is more than interesting or significant. I am logging it in the "Profound" category. I expect it will begin to shape and reshape who I am as a follower of Christ.

What do you think? Does it have relevance to your life? If it is true, does it change the way you think, act, live? What does it mean for the church? the believer? A profound word from God always seems to raise more questions than it answers, at least initially...