Day 336/365- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

"Weak>Strong"

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. 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. (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10 NLT)

Weakness is not a sought after attribute in our culture. We actually go out of our way to avoid it or the appearance out of it. If we go to counseling for instance (and that's a huge if), we don't tell anyone about it. We don't need counseling. I'm ok. There's nothing wrong with me.

Sound familiar?

And this is manifested in every area of our lives at times. We don't want to appear weak or in need. We don't want to ask people for help.

When we come to 2 Corinthians 12 however, Paul has a different attitude toward weakness. This would not be considered manly in our culture. The Bible has a differing mindset about weakness. It's teaching is counter cultural. Paul writes, "So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me."

Glad about weakness?

Boasting about weakness?

What kind of teaching is this?

God is not attracted to strength. In fact, he repels it. Think about who Jesus was attracted to & who he had the most conflict with. He rejected the proud, self-righteous, religious leaders but he accepted broken sinners. And it has always been this way. Consider what Isaiah says about the lowly and weak.

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isaiah 57:15 ESV)

All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord . But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. (Isaiah 66:2 ESV)

Even the Son of God did not come in strength & glory but humble, lowly, & in weakness as a baby. This is the kingdom of God.

You may think God can't use you because of your weakness, but according to the Word of God, you may be just the person he is looking for. In our weakness, God is made much of. In our weakness, God's glory is shown. In our weakness, God is strong & his strength is what's lasting. We don't need to be stronger, we need his strength sustaining & empowering us.

Are we weak or strong? We must change our mindset about weakness.