“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
That which is a limitation to us is an opportunity for God to do wonderful things. Why? From the very first moment of the Christian’s life in Christ, the Spirit of God is seeking to make him a man of faith. The reason for this is very simple. Just as sandals were to be taken off of the feet because of holy ground walked upon, and because no one was to touch the Ark of the Covenant, and thirdly as in revealed in a vision given to Daniel the prophet concerning a “stone” being cut out of the mountain without hands,” there is a stark, and clear difference between the Creator and the creation, the Holy God, and unholy man, the Holy Spirit and the flesh of men. Why is the consideration of this difference so very important to faith? It is because God is God, and man is man. As such God will NOT give His glory to another. How could it be otherwise since He is true, and unfailingly unchangeable in His holy and perfect nature? So, how is it that God would give the Apostle a “thorn in the flesh” so that he would be very conscious of his limitations, his weakness as a man, even a sinful man, but a saved servant and child of God? The answer resides in the ways of God, in particular that way of faith, but a faith that is not only not doubting, and not being doubleminded, but a faith that recognizes that all that is good and holy, is of God, and of God alone. Sinful man cannot lay claim to that which he is not capable of, and yet, the servant of Christ is called to believe God with a whole heart, and good conscience, so that, in spite of his weaknesses and frailty, he can glorify God by virtue of faith in Christ and the working of the Spirit in answer to faith. It is then that out of weakness Christ’s strength is appropriated, and received, all the glory belonging to Him.
The question then arises, “What should we be as believers, honestly considering the reality of our weaknesses and limitations? We should be those with mouths that are wide open, looking unto Jesus, trusting Him to keep us clean from all sin, and living a life of receiving from Him all that He desires to give. The Lord’s declaration to the Apostle Paul has been passed down to every believer on this globe for its application today. It must be learned, grasped, and lived by, so that by abiding in Christ, He should abide in us, His grace being MORE than sufficient for every need. Paul’s response to such a position taken in the face of these realities is that which should be our resolve: “Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that THE POWER OF CHRIST may rest upon me.” (2 Cor. 12:9) Here is the key to not being turned aside by the consciousness, and reality of our infirmities, or weaknesses. It is the rejoicing in Christ by faith, trusting in His abundant resources to meet every need. Though the consciousness of our weaknesses and limitations should lead us to humility, we are not to be deterred from believing God, rejoicing in Him, and His sufficiency, by faith, believing His abundant grace to be revealed.
In David’s twenty-seventh Psalm, the way is shown to us. He begins this song by taking a stand of faith in the truth of what the Lord has become to him. He writes: “The Lord IS my light, and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?” What is David doing? David is not preoccupied with his weaknesses, but with Christ’s strength. He takes by faith that which he knows to be true of Christ’s relationship with him. Then, trusting in His grace, he receives Christ’s power.
Dear Father, Be our strength today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.