Daily Bible Studywith SEEDS OF THE KINGDOM
Updated: Saturday, 22 November 2008, 12:06 (GMT)
3 August 2008 | 2 Corinthians 12:1-6
I must continue to brag. It will do no good, but I will talk now about visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who was taken up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. I do not know whether the man was in his body or out of his body, but God knows. And I know that this man was taken up to paradise. I don't know if he was in his body or away from his body, but God knows. He heard things he is not able to explain, things that no human is allowed to tell. I will brag about a man like that, but I will not brag about myself, except about my weaknesses. But if I wanted to brag about myself, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will not brag about myself. I do not want people to think more of me than what they see me do or hear me say.Notes
Why was Paul so pleased to brag about his weaknesses? Did he not know that the people who succeed in life are often the strong, the able and the assertive? Was he unaware that the world places a high value on things like power, status, money and reputation and you don't generally get those by being weak?Yet, Paul is simply following his Master's teaching. Jesus says 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, the meek and those that mourn' (Matthew 5:3-5). The Lord did not say blessed are the boastful, the assertive and the selfish!
Both Jesus and Paul were anything but weak people and so why do they celebrate weakness. I believe the answer is that what they meant by weakness is an understanding, that we cannot live life in our own strength, but only by the power that God provides. As we acknowledge our weaknesses, God enables us to do things like praying for our enemies, turning the other cheek when struck, and rejoicing when persecuted.
The world is shocked and yet in awe when we do things like forgiving our enemies. In 2005, Stephen Oake, a policeman and a Christian was stabbed to death. His father later said, ''I am praying for the perpetrator of this killing and seeking God's forgiveness for him and that he may now seek God himself and find peace and forgiveness with him.''
Have we turned our life over to the living God, or do we still live our lives in our own strength?
Prayer
Lord, help me to understand that without you I am truly poor. Help me to acknowledge my weakness and that it is only through Christ living in me who can strengthen me. Amen.Today's Writer
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Bible Study Archive
- 21 November 2008 | Under His Shadow
- 20 November 2008 | A plumb line not a pendulum
- 19 November 2008 | Keys to discovering and fulfilling your purpose and destiny (3)
- 18 November 2008 | Keys to discovering and fulfilling your purpose and destiny (2)
- 17 November 2008 | Keys to Discovering and Fulfilling your Purpose and Destiny (1)
- 16 November 2008 | Come Over and Help Us!
- 15 November 2008 | Who Am I and What Am I Like?
- 14 November 2008 | Resolve the Issues
- 13 November 2008 | Pour out your emotions
- 12 November 2008 | God's Kindness
- 11 November 2008 | Our Heavenly Father (2)
- 10 November 2008 | Our Heavenly Father (1)
- 9 November 2008 | The View from the Top!
- 8 November 2008 | The Mists will Clear
- 7 November 2008 | No Condemnation – just Restoration!
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