| Our verse to DATE the Word on December 9 (12/9) is 2 Corinthians 12:9 |
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| 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, 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. |
| A THEREFORE MOMENT Being very honest and transparent I will tell you that seeing life from God’s perspective is difficult. Oh, I know Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” I know that Joseph was able to tell his brothers in Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” What a divine perspective. Yet when I am going THROUGH IT and by “through it” I mean THROUGH IT, it is hard to understand what God is doing and it is hard to TRUST Him. And I don’t think I am alone in saying there are times it is just hard to have God’s perspective on the circumstances and situations we find ourselves “GOING THROUGH IT.” The apostle Paul reveals in 2 Corinthians 12 that he is GOING THROUGH IT as he tells that starting in verse 7 “lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.” While we don’t know exactly what the thorn in the flesh was (and will not take time to speculate here) we do know it brought much pain and discomfort to Paul and it was to a level that he v. 8 “pleaded with the Lord THREE times concerning this thing THAT IT might depart from him.” Now it is very possible for us to think that when the Apostle Paul prayed he most certainly received what he requested. After all, this is the Apostle Paul! However, the Apostle Paul tells us that God did not grant his request but rather informed him about the perspective he should have as HE IS GOING THROUGH IT. And what is that perspective? 2 Corinthians 12:9a “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” We are going to get the Apostle Paul’s response to this as the verse immediately continues with “therefore…” I do have to wonder though how QUICK it took Paul to truly respond. Was his response immediate? Did he need to go for a long walk? Did he need a couple of days? This was not the answer Paul was looking for as he had requested THREE times for this THORN IN THE FLESH to be removed. I just wonder how quick he was to EMBRACE the GREAT ANSWER GOD GAVE. And God did give a great answer, was it not? He told Paul that He had enough GRACE to help him THROUGH IT and that with the thorn in his flesh that made him WEAKER God’s strength would come out and be used and ultimately Paul is going to be STRONGER because of God’s strength. Whether immediately or after a week the Apostle Paul writes “THEREFORE.” He has what I like to call a THEREFORE MOMENT. The “THEREFORE MOMENT” is a decisive moment. Peter had one when Jesus told him to fish when fishermen knew it was the wrong time to fish. Peter said nevertheless (THEREFORE) at Your Word I will do what You said. (Luke 5:7) What does follow the “therefore” is massive! It is a Mount Rushmore type statement. Paul embraces what God has him going THROUGH with a new perspective, with God’s perspective. He writes “most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Continuing in verse 10 he writes another THEREFORE saying, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” I can’t answer with certainty WHY you are “GOING THROUGH IT” but I have come to understand that some of the “I am GOING THROUGH IT” moments are so God can humble me and bring me to a new place of DEPENDENCE on Him which then allows God to do more in me and through me and He gets all the GLORY! Are you “GOING THROUGH IT” right now? Hear your heavenly Father say, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Now comes the challenging part as you are now at your THEREFORE MOMENT. In your “THEREFORE MOMENT” what will your THEREFORE statement be? Verse to DATE the Word on December 9 (12/9) is 2 Corinthians 12:9. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “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.” Continue Strong trusting His perspective, And remember to DATE the Word. www.datetheword.com |