Magnificent Weakness

    "There is in man a higher than love of happiness; he can do without happiness, and instead thereof seek blessedness" Thomas Carlyle. Our Holy Bible is living, alive and able to divide man’s intelligence from God’s superior wisdom. And so the scriptures teach us of something greater, something far more lasting than happiness. It is found in God’s transformation of our magnificent weakness. The apostle Paul wanted more than health or his personal display of ability and pride. He wanted God’s strength and enabling to preach the Word. He found that better than the removal of trials and sufferings was the companionship of the Son of God and His sweet grace. Paul would gladly endure if only the power of Christ would rest upon him.

    Friends, have we forgotten that Romans 8:28 tells us all of life is working together for eternal good? Every person has a resume of life. We tend to put the happy, successful and prosperous experiences at the top. The apostle Paul causes us to take another look at this mind set. 2 Cor 11:23-28 describes Paul’s resume of life, "...I have been put in jail oftener, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jews gave me their terrible thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was shipwrecked. Once I was in the open sea all night and the whole next day. I have traveled many weary miles and have been often in great danger from flooded rivers, and from robbers, and from my own people. I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights... besides all this I have the constant worry of how the churches are getting along." "Three different times I begged God to make me well again." 2 Cor 12:8 But Jesus spoke simply, "...My power shows up best in weak people." Paul then proclaims, "now I am glad to boast about how weak I am. I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities." 2 Cor 12:9

    Dear Christian, what’s on your resume? Perhaps you’ve been divorced, survived cancer, experienced betrayal or suffered financial loss. Amazingly, this actually qualifies you as a blessed candidate to show forth God’s power. It’s true that these experiences often leave us weak and hurting. But God is waiting to pick you up and set you once more on the narrow path. "Don’t you know that this good man, though you trip him up seven times, will each time rise again?" Proverbs 24:16 Ultimately, we discover God’s display of power is making our lives a testimony of what can be done through magnificent weakness. Trust Him right now to finish the work He started. Only then can you receive all the blessings God has for you.