Rejoice in Weakness
It is good to be back in San Miguel! God is so good in so many ways, I can’t imagine living a day without Him.
When I read and think about the title of today’s devotion. Honestly I think why, why should I rejoice in weakness. The scriptures teach me that I have the power of Christ living in me through the Holy Spirit. This power healed the sick, gave sight to the blind and even raised Lazarus from the dead. It is the power that raised Jesus from the dead, it is GOOD!
As we continue to study and learn about humility (Kingdom humility) we will see that humility appears to be weak to those who don’t know Jesus. Think about how many scriptures in the last 23 days we read that gives us a warning against personal pride. Yesterday the scripture said; these things happen to them as examples for us. They were written down to “warn us” who live at the end of the age. If you think you are standing strong be careful not to fall. Pride will always come before the fall. Therefore let’s read the words of the Apostle Paul.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The Apostle Paul had some incredible experiences with God. Remember Jesus personally came to Paul on the road to Damascus as he was going to persecute Christians. Paul describes a time when God took him to the third heaven. I am not sure exactly what he meant but I do believe it happened. Paul experienced the healing power of God as he ministered to others. God even changed this Apostle’s name from Saul to Paul. Paul knew and experienced Almighty God in his life.
Today we read a verse very few want to experience. Paul tells us, because of all these great things I have experienced I have been given a thorn in my flesh to keep me from becoming proud, WOW! God knows our natural tendency to become proud when we experience something that others may not. Therefore the thorn was for Paul’s protection. The thorn was to turn Paul’s attention from himself to his Father in heaven. We are never told what the thorn is but we know that Paul begged the Lord to take it away. Three times Paul prayed but the words he heard were not the words he expected or wanted. The Lord said, My grace is all you need, My power works best in weakness. God is ALWAYS leading us to a greater, intimate and loving relationship with Him. We can’t do this if we are relying on our own strength and power.
Therefore Paul proclaims, “so now, (a new revelation) I am glad about my weaknesses. This experience with God transformed Paul’s thinking, it helped him realize that without Christ he could do nothing. It is only through his own weakness that he can be strong. This is another principle from the Lord that does not really make sense in our human reasoning. This is why we can read in scripture, the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are headed for destruction.
My friends how do you look at your weaknesses? Do you see them as an opportunity to glorify God or do you use them for an excuse to be complacent? Listen to the words of our Lord, “My grace is all you need!” I love all of you, have a super blessed day!
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