Memory Verse Day 25: Incomplete = More Complete?
(2Corintios 12:9 NBLH)
"But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
(2Corinthians 12:9 ESV)
I’m a day behind on my verse posts. I have been studying the verses of the day, but I haven’t memorized them as well as I want to either, so I’ll keep working on that. Writing about them actually goes a long way towards learning them.
Actually, perhaps this was a very appropriate verse for yesterday. I was weak, no doubt about it. Sick enough that I hardly got out of bed for half the day.
It was a migraine attack. And I was fighting all night long, and continued throughout the day. We were supposed to pick someone up at the airport (leaving at 2:30pm), so I reserved every ounce of strength for that trip.
I made it, by the way – got up at 2pm… we had no water for a shower, so I had a sponge bath and went. Although I probably wasn’t the enthusiastic welcomer I should have been. And Shari did drive home.
But enough about me. I think the Holy Spirit kept Paul from mentioning what this particular weakness was, because so many people can now relate to what Paul wrote. Paul could have been proud – "conceited" says the ESV in verse 7. So he was given a thorn in the flesh. From Satan – and yet really from God.
Paul pleaded that the thorn would be taken away, but God’s final word is here in verse 9.
My grace is enough.
It doesn’t matter what the weakness is – God’s grace is enough.
More than that – God has a purpose, even in weakness.
So in a strange way, we are more complete because of our weaknesses – because of our incompleteness. Because we know that it is a part of God’s purpose, and God completes us in Himself.
No wonder Paul glories in his weakness!
And he concludes in verse 10 – when I am weak, then I am strong.
When I no longer rely on my own strength (which really is weakness anyway), I can see the strength of God filling the gap.
And Paul himself expands the application in verse 10 – and I’ll let him have the last word.
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
7 May 2012 @ 4:33 pm
Jim: I agree that it’s good the Lord didn’t reveal Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” to us. So many people, including yours truly, have been given wisdom and grace to keep on while suffering.
It’s sure not easy to be content during trials, but we can choose to trust that they have meaning and will result in God’s strength being shown through us. And, after all, it is all about Him!
The key part of this post would be a great devotional for Rest Ministries. I may pass on the link to some of my friends who have chronic pain/illness.
Thanks Jim!