September 13, 15 CONTENT WITH WEAKNESSES
2 Corinthians 12:9-10: “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ sake; when I am weak, then am strong.” You got to be kidding! Not just endure, but be content with weaknesses, insults, distresses, with persecution and difficulties? We are once again reminded that the ways of God or not the ways of unregenerate man. Paul had what he described as a “thorn in the flesh” and though we do not know exactly what it was, it was something that he asked God to remove, but God did not remove it as He had a purpose for this “thorn in the flesh.” For certain, none of us desire a “thorn in the flesh.” We want good health, a decent appearance, a comfortable house, no weaknesses or difficulties, to be in control, and we want to be liked. These are not necessarily bad desires, but if you have lived for more than a few years, you know that life is not without it’ difficulties and challenges. In his battle with the “thorn in the flesh”, Paul learned a valuable insight as to how God works through weaknesses; he learned that when he was weak, then he was strong. Knowing that God chooses to work through our weaknesses produces in us a totally new perspective of our weaknesses. In fact, just like Paul, we can be “well content with weaknesses” because by acknowledging our weaknesses, we can and will experience His power at work in us. Instead of trying to rid ourselves of all of our weaknesses and difficulties, we can focus on the grace of God that He gives in time of need. It is key to note that Paul was talking about the difficulties, insults and distresses that he encountered for the sake of Christ. If we are about living our lives out of selfish ambition, then we will not be content with weakness and we will not experience His power at work in us- unless it’s His drawing us back to Himself. As in so many scriptures, the promises are for those who have a heart to follow the ways of the Lord and who are living in obedience to His word and to His ways. I would think that every believer has those occasions when his heart drifts form the Lord, but we can be assured that He is always drawing us to Himself with open arms. It is not God’s plan for our being weak to cause us to be slothful or ineffective. We can recognize our weakness, but at the same time be bold and be decisive because His power is released in us when we acknowledge our need for Him. The issue in life is not about our own strength and abilities, but about God working in and through us. God has given us the priviledge of being vessels through which He demonstrates His power. So, it is a fact that each of us have some weaknesses and we will certainly face difficulties, but let us remember that God is looking for those who acknowledge their weaknesses in order that He might demonstrate His power in them.
Philippians 4:11,: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Blessings,
Buddy
2 Corinthians 12:9-10: “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ sake; when I am weak, then am strong.” You got to be kidding! Not just endure, but be content with weaknesses, insults, distresses, with persecution and difficulties? We are once again reminded that the ways of God or not the ways of unregenerate man. Paul had what he described as a “thorn in the flesh” and though we do not know exactly what it was, it was something that he asked God to remove, but God did not remove it as He had a purpose for this “thorn in the flesh.” For certain, none of us desire a “thorn in the flesh.” We want good health, a decent appearance, a comfortable house, no weaknesses or difficulties, to be in control, and we want to be liked. These are not necessarily bad desires, but if you have lived for more than a few years, you know that life is not without it’ difficulties and challenges. In his battle with the “thorn in the flesh”, Paul learned a valuable insight as to how God works through weaknesses; he learned that when he was weak, then he was strong. Knowing that God chooses to work through our weaknesses produces in us a totally new perspective of our weaknesses. In fact, just like Paul, we can be “well content with weaknesses” because by acknowledging our weaknesses, we can and will experience His power at work in us. Instead of trying to rid ourselves of all of our weaknesses and difficulties, we can focus on the grace of God that He gives in time of need. It is key to note that Paul was talking about the difficulties, insults and distresses that he encountered for the sake of Christ. If we are about living our lives out of selfish ambition, then we will not be content with weakness and we will not experience His power at work in us- unless it’s His drawing us back to Himself. As in so many scriptures, the promises are for those who have a heart to follow the ways of the Lord and who are living in obedience to His word and to His ways. I would think that every believer has those occasions when his heart drifts form the Lord, but we can be assured that He is always drawing us to Himself with open arms. It is not God’s plan for our being weak to cause us to be slothful or ineffective. We can recognize our weakness, but at the same time be bold and be decisive because His power is released in us when we acknowledge our need for Him. The issue in life is not about our own strength and abilities, but about God working in and through us. God has given us the priviledge of being vessels through which He demonstrates His power. So, it is a fact that each of us have some weaknesses and we will certainly face difficulties, but let us remember that God is looking for those who acknowledge their weaknesses in order that He might demonstrate His power in them.
Philippians 4:11,: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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