After the Fire Goes OutSample

VULNERABLE AND VICTORIOUS 

One of the foremost difficult things for a man or a woman to be is vulnerable. Oftentimes, we think that our vulnerability makes us weak and that we must be “on” all the time in order to be useful to God’s Kingdom. That could not be further from the truth. God is not expecting us to be on all the time; He expects us to be honest with Him and ourselves about who we are and Whose we are.  

When Moses approached God, God asked Moses to take off his shoes since he was standing on holy ground. The shoes protected Moses from the coarse, rough, and unyielding ground of the desert. To wear shoes was to be covered; to take them off was to be vulnerable. Moses could feel on his feet every inch of heat that emanated from the burning bush. He had no barrier between him and the holy ground of God.  

God is not looking for us to barricade ourselves from His holy ground. He is looking for those who will be vulnerable enough to let Him do His work. Have you felt like it was difficult to be vulnerable with God? That every time something happens, you feel guarded? Armored? Unmoving? God doesn’t want that; He wants you to be open with Him as much as possible.  

Vulnerability is not second nature. We are so used to putting barriers between us and the world that we are more comfortable within the barriers than outside of them. Barriers are safe, stable, and secure. But when the fire goes out, and those barriers are gone, we cannot build more. We have got to be able to open up to God.  

Take off your shoes. This year is holy ground. This year, God is burning away all impurities and all barriers that would keep us from seeing Him. He shut everything down so that we had to see Him. You have been hiding behind your activities, your partner, your friends, your loved ones; and now God is saying, “Come out of it! I want to see you—exposed and unafraid.” 

Vulnerability is victory in Jesus Christ. Vulnerability is power in His name. Vulnerability is not our second nature; it is our first response to an open and loving God.