Then the devotional contact today. Today’ s Bible reading begins in the second
verse seven of Corinth, chapter twelve. And so that the greatness of the
revelations would not exalt me dimly, I was given a sting in my flesh,
a messenger of satan who slaps me so that I may not be greatly
exalted, concerning which I have three times begged the lord to take him from
me and told me to base my grace, for my power is perfected in
weakness. Therefore, willingly, I will rather glory in my weaknesses that the
power of Christ may rest upon me, so that, for Christ' s
sake, I may rejoice in weaknesses, in affronts, in necessities, in
persecutions, in distresses, for when I am weak then I am strong.
No one likes suffering. However, God uses pain to mold his children.
Although the times of happiness are wonderful, those of suffering produce growth. The
breakdown can highlight parts of us that try to leave God out if there are
aspects that we have not given him. They can hinder the plans our heavenly
father has for us, but with his skillful and loving way, they use
our circumstances and discomfort to reveal how dependent we are on him. Actually.
The apostle Paul experienced it after being saved on the road to Damascus. He
still needed spiritual growth to be more effective for Christ. Therefore, God permitted
some affliction that the Apostle called a sting. On three occasions he pleaded with
the lord to remove it, but the sting remained, even if it seemed
incredible. Paul' s reaction was gratitude. Moreover he wrote out of love
for Christ I rejoice in weaknesses, in affronts, in needs and in persecutions.
They' re distressed, because when I' m weak, then I
' m strong. Like Paul, suffering can displease us and yet give us
the confidence that God is making us grow. His purpose is for us to
walk in close unity with him and serve him according to his will. To
achieve this, you have to break our resistance and our self- sufficiency.
If you wish to live for Christ, trust him enough to pray so,
Lord, more than anything else in life I want to live for you please,
hinder any aspect that is not wholly subject to your will