Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Strength in Weakness
“Three
times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 about my weaknesses, so that
Christ’s power may rest on me.” (8, 9)
Years ago, at
a conference, a panel was discussing what makes Christianity different from all
the other religions in the world. Some of the participants argued that
Christianity is unique in teaching that God became man. But someone objected,
saying that other religions teach similar doctrines. What about the
resurrection? No, it was argued, other faiths believe that the dead rise again.
The discussion grew heated. C. S. Lewis, a strong defender of Christianity,
came in late, sat down, and asked, “What’s the rumpus about?” When he learned
that it was a debate about the uniqueness of Christianity, he immediately
commented, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.”
It is grace
below us, above us, before us, behind us and beside us. It is grace in which we
stand. Grace refers to that which God has given to us in Christ not because we
earned it or deserved it, but because He willed to give it. In this passage it
says that Paul experienced a thorn in the flesh. Paul’s thorn was not an actual
piece of wood stuck in his body but represented a problem or a disease he was
struggling with but this weakness made him strong. His weaknesses did not
destroy him. A little girl placed a cocoon that she found in a jar, expecting
to see a butterfly emerge. One day, she saw the butterfly within the
cocoon trying to get out. It was struggling and trying to push its way
out of the tight opening. In an effort to help the poor insect, she very
carefully slit open the cocoon. After that, the butterfly was able to
easily exit the cocoon. But, a strange thing happened. Instead of
spreading two beautiful wings, the butterfly had two withered, shriveled,
useless, ugly wings hanging by its side. Why? God designed the
butterfly and its cocoon so that the tight opening would straighten and
strengthen its wings. God has a purpose even in our weaknesses.
The
weaknesses of life keep us Humble:
Because of all the blessings Paul had been given, and because of all the mighty
ways in which God had used him, there was the danger that Paul might try to
take all the glory for himself. Therefore, God gave Paul
this thorn to remind Paul that this was about God and not about Paul. In other
words, it was sent to keep Paul humble.
The
weakness of life helps us to deepen our faith: Notice that Paul’s trials drove him to
his knees. Often, when the path of life is easy, we forget how much we need the
Lord. We get slack in our devotional lives and we tend to become a little too
self-sufficient. But, when trouble comes knocking, when we are pierced by one
of the thorns of life, we are shocked back to reality once again. It is true,
difficulty will drive us to our knees.
Each day as we
go about our lives, let us acknowledge that we can't do it,
but God can. Let’s put our dependence completely on God for his
grace, strength and wisdom.
Prayer: Lord, We thank you, for the gift of
grace and humility that come to us through our struggles. Thank you for those
things in my life that keep me weak and dependent on you. Amen
Thought for
the day: Grace abounds
in our weakness
Chris Thomas, St John’s MTC, NY