Scripture
Our verse will come from 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Background
Paul said twice in verse seven that the messenger of Satan that beat him did so to keep him humble. Consider some of the humblings from chapter 11 in which Paul felt the power of Christ resting upon him: five times he received 40 stripes minus one, three times beaten by rods, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, often in peril from robbers, waters, the wilderness, prison and false brothers. It makes it a little easier to understand what he means when he said, “for me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Every distress that Paul endured was accompanied by God’s sufficient grace. And the same is true for us.
Application
There is nothing that comes our way that doesn’t also come with God’s amazing grace. We just need to look for it. And if we were to die, God’s strength would be perfected in our weakest moment, when our bodies finally fail and we have nothing of ourselves that we can offer. Life having ended, all we could cling to is grace. Our works are gone, our years of service are history, our riches and reputation are ashes. Only grace can make us boast and take pleasure in infirmities. Only His grace can give us the strength to endure them. Be weak, so He can be strong.
Charge
As we pray, thank God that He is strong enough for our weakest weakness. Thank Him that we know He has a purpose, and it ultimately all points to Him being glorified and us being more like Jesus.
