A Legacy of Faith: How God’s Power is Made Perfect in Weakness
Dr. J.I. Packer’s book, Weakness Is the Way, contains a profound truth that can only be learned through experience: God’s power is made perfect in weakness. As someone who has authored 22 books and served as the general editor for the ESV Bible, Packer’s life is a testament to this principle.
A Life of Weakness and Strength
At just seven years old, Packer was struck by a bread truck, leaving him with a severe head injury. This accident forced him to spend much of his childhood indoors, where he developed a passion for reading and writing. Despite his physical limitations, Packer’s parents encouraged his love of learning, gifting him a typewriter instead of a bicycle. This unexpected gift ignited a fire that would burn brightly throughout his life.
A Ministry of Weakness
Throughout his career, Packer remained committed to his typewriter, never adapting to computers. This may seem like a limitation, but it allowed him to focus on the content of his writing rather than the medium. His experience of physical weakness also taught him to rely deeply on God as his source of spiritual strength. As he writes in Weakness Is the Way, “The way of true spiritual strength, leading to real fruitfulness in Christian life and service, is the humble, self-distrustful way of consciously recognized weakness in spiritual things.”
A Legacy of Faith
Packer’s legacy extends far beyond his own writings. His impact on God’s kingdom is immeasurable, and his influence can be seen in the countless lives he has touched. One example of this is the ministry of Crossway, which has been entrusted with the publication of the ESV Bible and gospel-centered resources. As the CEO and President of Crossway notes, “We exist because this sick and dying world needs the gospel. The world needs beautifully crafted, God-honoring, gospel-proclaiming books and Bibles.”
A Vision for the Future
Crossway’s vision is to publish content that prayerfully and humbly transmits the treasure of God’s word and the truth of the gospel. This vision is not limited to the United States but extends to the ends of the earth. Through initiatives like the One Million Bibles Initiative, Crossway aims to provide Bibles to believers in need around the world. As one ministry partner from India noted, “Receiving my first Bible was such a joy because I had no Bible of my own. All that I knew about the Bible was whatever I heard in church or what my mother had told me.”
A Prayer for the Future
As Dr. Packer prayed for Crossway almost ten years ago, “We ask that in this new phase of Crossway’s ministry, to this next generation and beyond, you may outstrip all that you brought to fruition in the past—that the story may move from good to better, from better to best, from much to more and greater—even as we rejoice in all that you have accomplished in the past.” May this prayer be answered, and may God’s power continue to be made perfect in weakness.
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