2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. . . . . . . . . [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.
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Jesus said to Paul, “my grace is sufficient.”
The Lord Jesus tells Paul that He is working out a divine, sovereign plan. It was not the power of the Apostle that would get the job done for Jesus. It was the power of God.
Paul says that the buffeting of his thorn is a gift from God. When we are going through a time of severe trial and pain, we may not see it then, but that time is a gracious gift of God.
How? during our time of buffeting there will be grace to stand for Jesus, grace to serve Him, grace to live for Him, grace to die for Him, grace to face life for Him. There will be grace — amazing, matchless, marvelous grace — for every hump in the road of life.
The Lord also says that His “strength is made perfect in weakness”. It simply means that God gets more glory from using the weak of the world than those of great strength and power, 1 Cor. 1:27.
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“Day by day, and with each passing moment, — Strength I find to meet my trials here; — Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment, — I've no cause for worry or for fear. — He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure, — Gives unto each day what He deems best. — Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure, — Mingling toil with peace and rest.
“Every day the Lord Himself is near me, — With a special mercy for each hour; — All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me, — He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r. — The protection of His child and treasure — Is a charge that on Himself He laid; — "As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure," — This the pledge to me He made.
“Help me then, in every tribulation, — So to trust Thy promises, O Lord, — That I lose not faith's sweet consolation, — Offered me within Thy holy Word. — Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting, — E'er to take, as from a father's hand, — One by one, the days, the moments fleeting, — Till I reach the promised land.”
Carolina Sandell Berg; translated by Andrew L. Stoog
Ideas for this unprofitable blog a taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit.
