Look inside this book.Where the Bush is Burning: A Daily Devotional by [Thomas Tice]

Tag: 2 corinthians 12
An Unusual Approach to Affliction

An Unusual Approach to Affliction

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An Unusual Approach to Affliction

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

II Corinthians 12:9c

As we consider our text for the third day, we come to consider an unusual approach to affliction. The Apostle Paul declares, ‘Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’ In what things do we typically ‘boast?’ We ‘boast’ in our strength. We ‘boast’ in our intelligence. We ‘boast’ in our abilities. We ‘boast’ in our achievements and accomplishments. It is totally unnatural to ‘boast’ in our ‘infirmities.’ Only the grace of Christ can enable us to do that. Paul desired to have Christ remove his ‘thorn in the flesh.’ Christ did not. More than that, He promised Paul that, ‘my grace is sufficient for you.’ Beyond that, He enabled Paul to actually view his ‘infirmities’ in such a positive way that he would ‘boast’ in them. Here is Christ-wrought wisdom. Here is that which is so unusual that it can only be the result of the Grace of God. All the power of positive thinking, masquerading as ‘Christian thought’ will not land us here. Ours is not the story of our own ability to overcome adversity by reciting a few well-chosen Bible verses, and ‘choosing joy.’ Our story is that of an abundantly Gracious Christ, Who gives us a view of afflictions which are totally beyond anything we are or can do of ourselves. In that way, He receives the Glory due to Him. For the hard-pressed child of God, Christ is all. Today, let us look again to Him, Who can enable us to boast in our infirmities, that His power may rest upon us.

Our Gracious, Upholding God,
we rejoice that You enable us to take Your view of our afflictions.
We praise You, that all these things work together for our good,
and for Your Eternal Glory.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning
His Strength, Our Weakness

His Strength, Our Weakness

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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 hear’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 of 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

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