Are You Putting Your Best Foot Forward?

Do you ever feel like you just got onto this trampoline of "Christian Life" and you're making a few small test-jumps to see if it's working, trying to see if Christ will catch you when you fall?  Just like a trampoline, the harder you jump, the more you are counting on the canvas to catch you when you come down, and the harder you come down, the stronger the trampoline will fling you up onto the next jump.

One of the more interesting things that was recently mentioned in Daily Audio Bible, and something that I've felt God guiding me on, is that while God gives us all these amazing resources like money, opportunities, talents, capabilities, etc, the true strength of the Holy Spirit comes with our willingness to hold up our weaknesses and struggles to light.

On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
         
(2 Corinthians 12:5-10 ESV)

In another instance, after Jesus had just risen to heaven, Peter healed a man on a street and both Peter and John were arrested because of the testimony that was being made. Yet, it was not the power of healing that astonished the officials, but instead, it was Peter and John's boldness (preaching with authority) despite the fact that they were uneducated and common! It was also because they were uneducated and common that they could relate to the commoners, converting thousands at a go, it was in essence the Holy Spirit making use of their weakness, completing their ability to win converts.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
(Acts 4:13-14 ESV)

So when we do the work of man, we put our best foot forward. But when we do the work of God (even at the workplace), we put forth not just our "best foot", but our everything, including our weaknesses. 

The next time you put your best foot forward, ask yourself, are you doing God's work?  If you are, put forth your everything!