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Msg #535                Wednesday, December 03, 2008

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 … the Lord… said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,

 for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” ….

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. (2 Co 12:8-10)

Do you like being weak?

Webster defines weakness as “not strong, easily defeated, lacking in skills, ability, stamina or strength”  So, consider the question again: Do you like being weak?   It almost seems impossible that anyone would answer that they like being weak.  Yet, that is exactly what Paul says to us in these verses.

What kind of weakness did Paul like?

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.

Consider the list he gives us:

• infirmities – physical weakness - sicknesses, feebleness
• reproaches – relational weakness - insults, treated wrongly by others
• needs – financial weakness - lack of supply, hardships
• persecutions – judicial weakness - treated wrongly for Christ’s sake
• distresses – internal weakness -  perplexed, stress, not knowing what to do

Are you weak today?   Are you weak today in one or several of these areas?  If so…how do you feel about your weakness?  Is it a bummer to you…or pleasure?

How is it that we could take pleasure in weakness?

I take pleasure …For when I am weak, then I am strong.

For Paul, his weakness caused him to rely more on the Lord and to discover afresh God’s strength.   The simple truth is that we are all weak – in fact entirely weak, more than any of us realize.  When we “feel strong” in ourselves, we are really deceiving ourselves.  The danger then is that because we feel strong that we will rely on our own supposed strength in areas of our lives.  That is dangerous.  Thus, when we feel weak, when weakness is thrust before us – it is a fresh opportunity for us to fully place our trust and hope in God.  It gives us the opportunity to rely more on God.

They key to weakness is discovering God’s strength

I take pleasure …For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Weakness is good, when it compels us to trust in the Lord and rely on His strength.  Yet, here is the problem – we don’t always respond to weakness this way.  Sometimes we become more selfish.   The danger is that we let weakness become a hindrance or even an excuse to pull back from God or what He has us to do.  This is folly.   I challenge you to let your weakness compel you to trust in God!  Weakness is an opportunity for God to come through, weakness should cause us to lean on God. 

When we are weak and God is strong…that is perfect.

for My strength is made perfect in weakness

Consider that for a moment.  Perfect? Yes, perfect.  A perfect score on a test is one that cannot be improved on.  A perfect day or perfect experience is as good as it gets - you cannot do better than perfect.  What God is saying, is that there is nothing better than us being weak and then relying on His strength.   Perhaps it is because when we “feel” strong in areas of our life, we depend on ourselves.  But one thing is certain – God longs for us to be weak – so that we can rely on His strength.  That is perfect.

Can I tell you something personally?  I know this is true, because God says it – that my weakness and His strength is perfect.  I can understand it a little theoretically.   Yet…practically….when I see afresh some areas of weakness in my life…I don’t always see it this way first.   I still tend to believe that it would be “perfect” if I was strong and God was strong….but that is not what He says… and He is right.   My weakness and His strength…is perfect…and I am working on believing that to the level that Paul did…so that I could be pleased when I am weak….pleased to see my weakness.

Today, you can rejoice in your weakness.

Not because the weakness themselves are good, but they are opportunities and reminders to place all your confidence in God.   Today…lets grow in this and rejoice at the places God brings us face to face with weakness in our life and let it compel us to trust in God’s strength! 

Jim

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