12/19/11 strength in weakness 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

The passage I read was II Corinthians 12:1-10

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20corinthians%2012:1-10&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:  

 ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
 

As I reflect:

Does anyone remember the Beatitudes? 

 ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
   for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
   for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
   for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
   for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
   for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
   for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Found in Matthew 5, these commonly called Beatitudes are nothing common at all.  Rather Jesus was teaching quite the exception to the common that is normally accepted.  Poor in spirit is really rich.  Mournful of our own state of being, is really a blessed place to be.  Meek will inherit the earth.  These teachings are directly contrary to what the world believes and stands for.  The world will tell you it’s the strong with their chest puffed out and their chins held high that will inherit power in this world.  The world will tell you to go to Harvard, go make 50k starting entry level, get a loan, start your own business, get big, take over other businesses, become as rich as you  can possibly be, and that all this makes you powerful.  This is what makes you strong!  The world tells you this is the way to leave a legacy and own the world.   The world tells you that mercy is for the weak and that seeking after righteousness is a waste of time.  Money, money, money!  - that’s one of many general world views. 

But, I tell you, take away that man’s corporations, multi-million dollar homes, bank accounts, wife, children, cars, expensive suits… All of it.  And you will watch a man fall to his knees in tears over his great loss.  You will watch a man that once thought he was very strong, become very weak before you.  God teaches us differently.  We appear fallen, weak, and often foolish to others already, when in fact we are very strong because our weakness realized cause us to lean ever more on the strongest and most powerful being in existence;  Our God.  If we rely on Him, then in our weakness truly we are strong.  He cannot be taken from us and so what can the world do to cause us to become weak?  Our reliance isn’t on our homes, our wealth, or even our families, but it is on God.  If you were to take my home today and burn it to the ground, I would not cry or become any weaker, for I am already weak and relying on God and God alone.  In this way would I also respond to any loss of material wealth.  I’d simply ask my Lord where He wanted us to go and what He wanted us to do, and then (because we rely on Him) we would move on without sadness or falling apart of any kind.  When life’s storms blow, you will find us on our knees on the solid rock that doesn’t move.  When all in life seems well and we are greatly blessed on every side, you will find us on our knees on the solid rock that doesn’t move.  This doesn’t change in sickness or in health.  It is on our knees that we are not found weak, but ever stronger in God.  The Christian who relies on himself is no Christian but only a man of religious practice.  For we rely on God. 

My response to the Lord:

Abba, you know me well.  You know my heart, my mind, my future, and my past.  You have taken me from a place where I knew everything there was to know and was strong and mighty and yet was blown by the wind every direction.   You taught me that I knew nothing and that for all my strength I was on a path to destruction.  Thank you for breaking me down so that I could be completely re-built to rely on you.  Thank you for bringing me to my knees.  I never knew there was such power there.  Thank you for humbling me and for continuing to do so.  You have shown me things that I would never have been able to learn had I not fallen to the bottom first.  Thank you even for my struggles today.  For it is these that continue to remind me to walk with you.  I cannot nor do I wish to ever attempt to live without you again.  You are my portion and my strength.  In Jesus’ name.