Thoughts for another day

May 21, 2008
Today's verse: 1 Cor. 12:10. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Here’s an amazing statement Paul makes: I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in lack, in persecutions and sorrow…for when I am weak, then I am strong! When you read it for a moment, if you were to apply human and worldly logic, you will be amazed at the stupidity of the statement. But the moment you bring God into the picture, the statement turns on its head and now there is a divine interpretation that shouts from the inside saying that when you have been positive in all the negatives that have happened to you, you are pleasing God and in pleasing Him, you stand to benefit by His awesome Grace and might.

See, when you are empty, then alone God will fill you. In ch. 4 of 2nd Kings, we read of a widow of a guild prophet who has debt to pay. Elisha tells her to borrow vessels and fill them with oil from a jug of oil that she had in order that she sell it and repay her debts. Even while she fills in whatever vessels she could borrow from neighbors, the oil does not run out. It is only when she runs out of empty vessels that the oil runs out. Only when we cease to be empty will the Grace of God cease to hold us. Paul gives us an important lesson in what He says, ‘when I am weak, then I am strong’ for in his weakness, the strength of God is at the highest.

God will allow His strength into us, only when we stand weak before Him. Check it out for yourself in your life. If you are well in every way, would you remember God, leave alone needing Him, I know of people who say, ‘why disturb God?’ The unfortunate thing with us human beings is that God for us is just a figurehead far away; in whom we have no complete belief. It is the case with the best of us. Sadly when we most need Him, we are most away from Him. This despite the fact that Jesus says, ‘Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy burdened…’

Friend, wherever you are and whoever you are, pay attention to God’s Word and learn to lean on Him. Make yourself weak before Him so that He will make you strong. You will then discover that God it is, Who will be all sufficient for you.