His Glory My Joy, a blog of Author Luana Ehrlich

When someone makes the statement, “I’m not able,” it can be an admission of weakness, but it can also be an admission of faith.

When a person realizes they’re not able to stand before God as blameless, they’re not expressing weakness; they’re validating the truth of Romans 3:23:  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

But that’s not the full story. Even though everyone has sinned, Hebrews 7:25 tells us that Jesus, the Son of God, “is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God.”

And there’s this from Jude 24, where the writer says that Jesus “is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.”

Admitting I am not able to deliver myself from my sins, nor appear before God as blameless, is an expression of faith, and accepting the truth that He is able—by means of His sacrificial death—to accomplish it, is a confession of that faith.

But that’s still not the full story. In 1 Timothy 4:12, the apostle Paul says,  “I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.”

And lastly, from Hebrews 2:18:  “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

I am not able, but God is able.

He is able to save those who come to Him.

He is able to keep you from stumbling.

He is able to present you as blameless.

He is able to guard you.

He is able to help you in temptation.

As the apostle Paul urges us in Ephesians 3:20-21, we give Him glory for He is able.

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”