BE CONTENT WITH YOUR WEAKNESS!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY AUGUST 12, 2021.

SUBJECT : BE CONTENT WITH YOUR WEAKNESS!

Memory verse: "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty." (First Corinthians 1 vs 27.)

READ: Second Corinthians 12 vs 9 - 10:

12:9: But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

12:10: Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong."

INTIMATION:

Humans are imperfect. Each of us has a bundle of flaws and imperfections; physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. You may also have uncontrollable circumstances that weaken you, such as financial or relational limitations. We are God's creatures, and He has allowed these imperfections in our life for His predetermined purposes. Your weaknesses are not an accident. God deliberately allowed them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating His power through you.

A weakness is not a sin or a vice or a character defect that you can change, such as overreacting or impatience. A weakness is any limitation that you inherited or have no power to change. It may be a physical limitation; a handicap, a chronic illness, or disability. It may be emotional limitation; a trauma scar, a hurtful memory, a personality quirk, or a hereditary disposition. Or it may be a talent or intellectual limitation. We are not all super bright or talented.

The most important issue is that God loves you, even in your weakness or limitations. It is for our weaknesses that God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to the world, as a propitiation for our sins, since we can't handle sin ourselves. Come to think of it, if we are perfect, are we going to need God? The answer is no! God allows those weaknesses in us to always remind us of our need for Him. And He gives us the power to accomplish the seemingly impossible task, our limitations not withstanding. Knowing that the power is His, not ours, should keep us from pride and motivate us to keep daily contact with God, our power source. 

Sometimes we deny our weaknesses, defend them, excuse them, hide them, and resent them, instead of owning them up. And that prevents God from using them the way He desires. God has a different perspective on your weaknesses. He has His reasons for creating you the way He did, and that knowledge is known to Him alone. Be totally truthful, and allow Him to use you as He purposed. Although God's method and means are beyond our comprehension, He Himself is not arbitrary, He governs the universe and our lives in perfect wisdom, justice, and love. We think that God only wants to use our strengths, but He also wants to use our weaknesses for His glory.

God is always drawn to people who are weak and admit it. Jesus regarded this recognition of our need as being "poor in spirit." (Matthew 5 vs 3.) It is the number one attitude He blesses. If God considers perfection in using people, obviously nothing could be done, because none of us will be eligible since we are all imperfect. When you think of the limitation in your life, you may be tempted to conclude, "God could never use me." But God is never limited by our limitations. Rather He brings His great power to bear in our situations, haven considered us as ordinary containers—earthen vessels (frail and fallible human beings) (Second Corinthians 4 vs 7). 

Normally, we recognize our limitations, and will not congratulate ourselves and rest at that. We will want to be freed from our weaknesses, not be content with them! However, contentment is an expression of faith in the goodness of God. Therefore, in our limitations, we will turn to God to seek pathways for effectiveness, rather than relying on our own energy, effort, or talent. Our weaknesses not only helps us develop Christian character; it also deepens our worship, because in admitting our weakness, we affirm God's strength. When we are strong in abilities or resources, we are tempted to do God's work on our own, and that can lead to pride. 

God often attaches a major weakness to a major strength to keep our egos in check. A limitation can act as governor to keep us from going too fast and running ahead of God. In recognition of this fact, the apostle Paul said in Second Corinthians 12 vs 7, "...a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure." It's God design to always prove His strength in our affairs, so that we will always come back to Him in difficult times. 

When Gideon recruited an army of 32,000 to fight the Midianites, God whittled it down to just 300, making the odds 450 to 1 as they went out to fight 135,000 enemy troops. It appeared to be a recipe for disaster, but God did it so Israel would know it was God's power, not their own strength, that saved them. 

Prayer: Abba Father, I know by strength shall no man prevail. I will boast in my limitations because I know Your strength is made perfect in my weakness, and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Give me the grace to put You first in all things in my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen. 

PRAISE THE LORD!