PRIDE IN WEAKNESS

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.

2 Corinthians 11:30-33

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Have you ever heard anyone brag about their shortcomings?

It’s rare right, counterintuitive to how we usually think about boasting.

Typically, we find people wanting to talk openly and boldly about their strong points. Highlighting our strengths shows others that we count and hold value in the world we live in. It makes us feel better about who we are and boosts our self esteem.

But here’s the thing. If we’re not careful about suppressing our weaknesses, we might give others the impression we are completely independent of needing help from others and self sufficient, even self serving. We may even convince ourselves that we can live this thing called life using our own power and intellect, not even needing the Lord to do things.

In the verses preceding those in our passage today, we read words written by the Apostle Paul which detailed all the hardships and challenges he endures for the cause of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others. These hardships and challenges came from people, the rigors of extensively traveling from place to place, the reliance of the support of others, and the elements of nature. Paul has gone through so much persecution and calamity but he came through it all undeterred. He never quit even though he realized just how inadequate he was to face the trials he endured. Instead, he did the only thing any person can do in the midst of realizing their weaknesses. He placed his faith and hope in the Lord, the One through which he discovered he could do all things (Philippians 4:13).

On one such occasion, danger came calling on Paul while he was in Damascus and he found rescue in a way that he couldn’t make happen himself. The event happened right after Paul (then named Saul) had converted from Judaism to Christianity. King Aretas’ governor had orders the city guarded so to arrest Paul and therefore halt the ministry work that he was doing. But the plan failed as the Lord brought people to Paul so he might escape and be saved. The account is found in the ninth chapter of the Book of Acts:

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. Acts 9:19-25

Paul rejoiced in his weaknesses because it would result in worship and praise to the source of his strength, the Lord God Almighty. Perhaps we should follow his lead in the way we approach ourselves and our place in the world today. For the Lord of Paul is our Lord today, a Lord of infinite unrivaled power, a Lord who cares intimately for anyone who places their hope and trust in Him.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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