His Strength, Our Weakness

And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness… 

II Corinthians 12:9b 

Long term physical afflictions are wearing upon every portion of us. Our body is in pain; our mind chafes under the limitations; we are less able to joyfully interact socially; and our spirituality can easily become less vibrant. We may say to ourselves, ‘why is it so with me? My heart’s desire is to glorify God by laboring heartily for His Glory. I want to have strength and ability to make much of Christ.’  We may go so far, as Paul did, to pray for God to remove this ‘thorn in the flesh.’ Yet God may not remove it, because He will do a greater thing. Yesterday, we considered that after Paul had besought the Lord three times to remove his ‘thorn,’ Christ answered His petition with, ‘My Grace is sufficient for you.’ He follows that with a reason, which serves as our text for today, ‘for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Our weakness provides the stage for the display of the Strength of Christ. By viewing us, in all our inability, carrying out the work of God, making much of Christ, behaving in a Christ-like manner, ministering in a Christ-like way, and pointing others to Christ, they see, not us, but Christ and the display of the full complement of His Strength. As His ‘strength is made perfect in weakness,’ He gets the glory; for the success of any endeavor depends upon Him, and the credit belongs to Him. Therefore, we today can endure these thorns knowing that Christ will have the glory. 

Our Strong and Able Savior, 
We praise You, that You empower us, 
who have no strength apart from You. 
Uphold us this day, with Your Free Spirit, 
that others may praise and magnify You.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning