2 Corinthians 12:9 - Power in Weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) My grace is
sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness.
INTRODUCTION
Here is recorded one of the greatest
spiritual truths in all of Scripture: God's strength
is made perfect (complete, mature) in our
weakness. Verse 10 expresses it again in summary
fashion: "For when I am weak, then I [through
Christ's power] am strong." [Believer's SB]
Jesus had taught his disciples this
principle years before: "I am the vine, you are the
branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear
much fruit, because apart from me you can do
nothing" (John 15:5 NRSV). It is only when believers
remain in Christ and rely on Christ's power that
they become truly effective. (Life Application
Commentary)
When we are strong in abilities or
resources, we are tempted to do God's work on our own,
and that can lead to pride. When we are weak,
allowing God to fill us with 'his' power, then we are
stronger than we could ever be on our own. God does
not intend for us to seek to be weak, passive,
or ineffective - life provides enough
hindrances and setbacks without us creating them. When
those obstacles come, we must depend on God. Only
his power will make us effective for him and
will help us do work that has lasting value.
[Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
My guideposts editor invited me to write
about my divorce, both to help others and to
explain my name change. I agreed because I knew
readers might be curious and I'm always motivated by
a desire to comfort and encourage others - but
the divorce is still new. Plus, how would I
share about it in three hundred words or less?
After taking time to think about what I
wanted to say, I can say this with joyous
certainty: Jesus's grace is indeed sufficient. When I
was weak, He was strong. He alone is powerful.
Jesus's grace was sufficient when I
Insisted on marrying even though God said no.
Sufficient to keep me in a marriage that was difficult
from the onset. Sufficient to enable me to grow
in dry and rocky soil. Sufficient to give me
two wonderful children I thought I'd never have.
Sufficient for them to continue to flourish despite the
divorce. Sufficient to forgive myself and my
ex-husband for our considerable failures. Sufficient to
know we can all have a good future when we keep
Jesus as our focus. Sufficient to have a kind and
cooperative relationship with my ex-husband now.
Sufficient to see Him pouring out blessing upon
blessing, grace upon grace.
Jesus is more than able, more than
willing, and more than enough. And none of it depends
on my goodness. Hosanna! Isabella Campolattaro
Faith Step: Reflect on a difficulty in
your life. Invite Jesus to help you see His
amazing grace. [Mornings With Jesus 2022 Devotional
by Guideposts and Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
Sufficient Grace
I thought the Christian life was going to
be easier than this. Have these words ever
entered your mind? Sometimes we come into the family
of God thinking that our heavenly Father will
fix all our problems and devote Himself to our
happiness and comfort. However, that is not the
reality portrayed in Scripture. Paul was a man whom
the Lord used greatly, and yet his life was
anything but easy.
In fact, at one point, the apostle
thought his pain was too much to bear, and he begged
God to remove it. Theres nothing wrong with
asking the Lord to relieve our suffering, but what
should our response be if He doesnt? Paul
probably had no idea that His experience would find
its way into the Bible, to comfort and guide
believers throughout the ages. The promise God gave
him applies to us as well: My grace is
sufficient for you (v. 9).
Gods grace could be defined as His
provision for us at the point of our need. The problem
is that sometimes it doesnt seem as if the
Lord truly is meeting our need. But He frequently
sees deficiencies, outcomes, and complications
that we dont. His goals for us involve
spiritual growth, the development of Christlike
character, and strong faith. And trials play a vital
role in achieving these.
The important issue is how we respond. If
all you want is relief, you could descend into
anger and doubt. But if your desire is to become
the person God wants you to be, youll see
each trial as an opportunity for Christ to
display His character and strength in you. [In Touch
Daily Devotional by Charles Stanley at
www.intouch.org]
How to Receive the Grace to Keep Going
Through Troubles
What do you do when you cant fix a
problem, solve a riddle, change a circumstance, or
control a hurt? You throw yourself on the sustaining
grace of God.
He offers you the kind of grace you need
to keep going in spite of temptations, trials,
tension, tiredness, and troubles. To accept his
grace, do these four things:
1. Cry out for Gods help. When you
pretend to be self-sufficient, you short-circuit
Gods power in your life. You need to admit your
inadequacy and say, God, I cant handle this!
The Bible says, God is against the proud,
but he gives grace to the humble. So give
yourselves completely to God Come near to God, and
God will come near to you (James 4:6-8 NCV).
2. Fill your mind with Gods Word. Let
Gods Word comfort, strengthen, fill, soothe, and
energize you to keep going. Get into it every single
day of your life. The psalmist prayed, I lie
in the dust; revive me by your word (Psalm
119:25 NLT). If you could find the solution within
yourself, youd already be changed. You need to look
to God! Hes the only one with sustaining
strength.
3. Accept support from Gods people.
The Bible says that, by helping each other with
our troubles, we obey the law of Christ, which
is, Love your neighbor as yourself. God
never meant for you to go through life on your
own. Our weaknesses help us realize how much we
need each other. You need to accept support from
Gods people.
4. Hold on to Gods promises. There are
around 5,500 of them in the Bible waiting to be
claimed. Heres one of them: He gives strength
to the weary and increases the power of the
weak. Even youths grow tired and young men stumble
and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will
renew their strength. They will soar on wings like
eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will
walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV).
Keep your hope in the Lord and your eyes focused
on the hope of heaven, not just on the here and
now.
The Bible says, Three times I pleaded
with the Lord to take it away from me. But he
said to me, My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness
(2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV).
When youre going through a problem you
cant fix, dont give up. Just look up! [Daily
Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
His Strength in Your Weakness
I didnt have an easy childhood. I came
from a home that was broken many, many times
over. But I can look back on my past today and
instead of moaning about it, I can say, I went
through that, and now I can comfort others. It
has become a tool to help others.
I wouldnt want to go through that
again, of course. Nor would I want anyone else to
go through the same thing. But Im thankful
that God can take my past and use it for His
glory today. Im thankful that He can take that
hardship and use it for His glory. He can do the same
for you.
Maybe at this time in your life, youre
going through some hard times, and youre
wondering why. God will use it. Its hard to believe
now. But just remember that it wont last
forever.
As 1 Peter 1:6"7 says, In this you
greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if
need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
that the genuineness of your faith, being much
more precious than gold that perishes, though it
is tested by fire, may be found to praise,
honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus
Christ (NKJV). Trials dont last forever.
Im reminded of a sign posted at the
end of an airport runway that reads, Keep
moving. If you stop, you are in danger and a danger
to those who are flying.
You can take that same statement and
apply it to the Christian life. Keep moving.
Dont give up. Don't abandon hope. You are going
to get through that valley in your life. There
will be an even greater mountaintop beyond it,
with great lessons you have learned as God
demonstrated His strength in your weakness. [Greg Laurie
from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
ILLUSTRATION
Treasures in the Darkness
My friend, David, lives on the edge. He's
a quadriplegic, his wife left him after the
car accident, he survives on government
benefits, and lives alone in a little apartment
downtown. After getting up in the morning, he more or
less fends for himself after his part time
attendant leaves. Despite all his struggles, David
always orders the public access van on Saturday
evening so that he can come to our church for Sunday
services.
"Who helps you with dinner?" I asked him
once. David explained that he usually powers his
wheelchair over to the Pizza Hut for dinner. "The Lord
always provides someone to help," he laughed.
"Sometimes it's one of the waiters on break. Or a
stranger having dinner who offers to help. I can feed
myself," he said proudly. "I just need someone to
place the pizza in the curve of my hand just so.
But Joni, I'll tell you something. All this
helps me to depend on the Lord. I mean... I depend
on him."
David inspires me because he's not afraid
to live on the edge. Somehow, he finds light in
the darkness and hope in the midst of
helplessness. And God has revealed to him the preciousness
of Isaiah 45:3, where the Lord promises, "I
will give you the treasures of darkness, riches
stored in secret places so that you may know I am
the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by
name." Oh, how wealthy are the people who need God
desperately; whose treasure in the darkness is a deeper
knowledge of him.
In the midst of your own darkness, there
is treasure, and riches that could never be
discovered in the light of ease and peace. Needing God
desperately will always make you wealthy.
Lord Jesus, you left the rainbow radiance
of heaven to taste darkness and death for me...
and bring me home to your Father's house. And
even now, in the worst of times and deepest of
sorrows, you have become my treasure and my hope.
[Joni Eareckson Tada Daily Devotional:
http://www.joniandfriends.org/daily-devotional re Daniel 2:22]
CLOSING PEARL
Not many people get excited about their
weaknesses. Usually, we are embarrassed by them; we do
everything possible to hide them; we cringe if people
think we're a "weak person." That was me - at
least back in the late sixties, when I was in high
school. But a reckless diving accident several weeks
after graduation changed all that. A broken neck
left me a quadriplegic, without use of my hands
or legs. There was no way I could hide a
"limitation" like my wheelchair. I would wake up in the
morning and cry out, "Oh God, I can't live this
way.... I don't have the strength to face a life of
paralysis." Then I stumbled onto 2 Corinthians 12:9.
It began to dawn on me that my weakness
might very well turn out to be a strength - it
would force me into the arms of Jesus out of sheer
desperation. And I learned that's not a bad place to be.
Nearly forty years have passed, and I am
still going to God every morning, urgently looking
for help and hope. I have learned that my
paralysis is my passport to peace, power, and a
perspective sent straight from heaven. "Boasting in your
weakness" is the Christian way to live. It's the
biblical way. In fact, it is the only - the best -
way to live! And I would rather be in my
wheelchair needing Jesus than be on my feet without
him.
Joni Eareckson Tada, founder and CEO of
Joni and Friends International Disability Center,
is a national disability advocate and the
author of more than forty books, including Joni,
her best-selling autobiography. [The One Year
Bible Live Verse Devotional]
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Its all right to be human. When your
mind wanders while you are praying, don't be
surprised or upset. Simply return your attention to
Me. Share a secret smile with Me, knowing that I
understand. Rejoice in My Love for you, which has no
limits or conditions. Whisper My Name in loving
contentment, assured that I will never leave you or
forsake you. Intersperse these peaceful interludes
abundantly throughout your day. This practice will
enable you to attain a quiet and gentle spirit,
which is pleasing to Me.
As you live in close contact with Me, the
Light of My Presence filters through you to bless
others. Your weakness and woundedness are the
openings through which the Light of the knowledge of
My Glory shines forth. My strength and power
show themselves most effective in your weakness.
(Deu. 31:6; 1 Pet. 3:4; 2 Cor. 4:6-7; 2 Cor. 12:9)
[Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
2 Corinthians 12:9 - Power in Weakness.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2017/20170311-1953.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2014/20140827-1650.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20160213-1454.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
