2 Corinthians 11:1-11

 1 I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with
me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to
Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that
just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be
led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes
to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a
different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you
accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
 5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”. 6 I may
indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this
perfectly clear to you in every way. 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to
elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other
churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was
with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers
who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being
a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of
Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine.
11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

MEDITATION
1. Both Jesus’ and Paul’s gentleness was misunderstood as weakness.  How has
that resulted in blessing (Mt 5:5)?  Where, in my life, do I need to embrace
their example right now?
2. God is still looking for “weak” people in whom to display His strength.  Am
I willing to “apply” for the job?

Personal Note:
In our society today, we worship greatness and success.  Paul being poor, humble, and not being a burden to people was mistaken as weak.  When we look at great leaders from history, the ones who had great influences were willing to be weak and humble.  They were willing because they knew that God's strength is displayed through their weakness.  I am willing to become weak so I cannot boast of my strength and people will see that it is God's love and strength working through me.