Have you ever read a passage of Scripture, and you immediately saw that you are totally out of alignment with what God was saying?
That was me this morning. During family worship, we read this Text:
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
I just sat there. Then I stared at it. Then I started reading it over and over. My wife looked at me with a puzzled look…then she smiled. She knew those verses had grabbed me.
I thought to myself:
- I feel like God has given me some revelation at times…
- But I despise the price. Satan needs to get behind me. I’ll handle my own conceit.
- I’m grateful for grace but rarely see it as sufficient. I want the circumstances to change! NOW!
- I do not boast in my weaknesses; I whine about them.
- So then am I forfeiting available power from Christ because of my attitude?
- I’m not only NOT content with my weaknesses; I despise them!
- I’m not only NOT content with insults…I’m insulted! LOL
- Hardships, persecutions, and calamities? The devil is a lie! (Or liar, depending on the church you grew up in. :))
- When I’m weak, I’m weak. I feel weak, I pray weakly, and I hate weakness.
I’m a big mess apparently. Muuuuuuch work to do.
Thank you Lord for mercy.
