IN review of 2 Corinthians 12:10 it says, “Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ. Because when I am weak, I am strong.”
Bottom Line:
For Christ’s sake, we should delight in weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties. We are made strongest, when we are weak.
What this means to me:
I should glad to see insults, mistreatments, troubles and sufferings come my way as a result of following Christ. For I am made strongest, when I am weak.
Today's passage comes from 2 Corinthians 12. In it Paul speaks of the thorn in his flesh. Instead of boasting about awesome visions that God had given Paul, he chooses to only boast about his weakness. He says he doesn't want anyone to give him credit beyond what they can see in his life or hear in his message, even though he received such wonderful revelations from God. Paul believes that to keep him from becoming proud, He was given a thorn in his flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment him and keep him from becoming proud.
Three different times Paul begged the Lord to take it away. Each time God told him, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So he says, now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ can work through me. Therefore, this is why he takes pleasure in his weakness, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that he suffers for Christ. For when He is weak, then he is made strong.
Paul never reveals his actual thorn. Whatever the case, it was a chronic and debilitating problem, which at times kept him from working. He prayed for it's removal; but God refused. Paul was a very self-sufficient person, so this thorn must have been difficult for him. Instead of healing, Paul received grace far greater from God, a strong character, humility, and an ability to empathize with others. In addition it benefited those around him as they saw God at work in his life. God, according to his sovereign plan, doesn't heal some believers of their physical ailments. We don't know why some are spared and others aren't. God chooses according to his divine purposes. My task is to pray, to believe, and to trust. Paul is living proof that holy living and courageous faith do not ensure instant healing, we just trust our bodies to God's care. We must recognize that nothing separates us from his love and that our spiritual condition is always more important than our physical condition.
While God did not remove Paul's physical affliction, he did promise to demonstrate his power through him. As I recognize my limitations, I too can come to depend on God for my own effectiveness rather than on my own energy, effort, or talent. My limitations and weakness not only help develop Christian character but also deepen our worship, because in admitting them, we affirm God's strength.
When I am strong in abilities or resources, I am tempted to do God's work on my own, and that can lead to pride. When I'm weak, allowing God to fill me with his power, then I am stronger than I could ever be on my own. God does not intend for me to seek to be weak, passive, or ineffective; life provides enough hindrances and setbacks without me creating them. However, when those obstacles come, I must depend on God. Only his power will make me effective for him and will help me do the work that has lasting value.
God knows all my flaws, mistakes, and weaknesses. He also knows that I’m amazing. I was not designed to handle all of life’s hardships on my own. I was created to serve, created to seek, and created to be dependent on my Creator.
When I’m serving God, I am seeking Him out first. I ask for Him to guide me in the way everlasting and to help me when life becomes difficult. Even though God chastens me at times, He always does so with my very best in mind.
I am to be disciplined so that I can be a true disciple of the one true God, so that I can shed His light and love even though I am flawed.
Today, I will let my light shine before men that all around me can see the glory of God. Give my flaws, my weaknesses, the parts of me that are broken and in need of repair, to Almighty God. Then watch as He weave them together in a pattern that reflect His image.
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