PASTORS' DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Apr
12
12
Weakling or being weak for Christ
Rod Shimabukuro
Scripture
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. 2 Corinthians 12:10
Observation
Weakness, trials and hardships, pain and suffering are not the things we would normally find pleasure in and be proud to proclaim… Unless you are Paul - or like him - or serve HIs God! The world would not attribute sufferings and hardships with winning trophies or receiving awards and rewards. Yet in God’s eyes and world, for the sake of Christ we are content with weaknesses, calamities, hardships.
Application
I hate suffering, pain, hardships.. I am such a weakling, not finding any pleasure in boasting about my weaknesses. When I’m insulted I want to insult. When I feel used, I want to retaliate. When I am persecuted, I want to fight. When something bad happens to me or my family, I want to get revenge. How evil, cold, hard - my heart can be!
- But my renewed spirit in Christ, says bring it on! I am a fighter of the good fight of faith, a scrapper in the Spirit. In my weakness I boast that Jesus powerful presence may rest upon me!
Prayer
Lord Jesus! I cry out in humility and repentance for Your grace, forgiveness and strength! Help me to boast in my weaknesses when I am ridiculed, talked about, looked down upon - and these things don’t even come close to comparing with Paul’s definition of weakness Oh God - have mercy on me… a weakling. But may I boast in any weakness for Your sake!