2 Corinthians 12:1-10

 1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to
visions and revelations from the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen
years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of
the body I do not know—God knows. 3And I know that this man—whether in
the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4was caught up
to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.
5I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about
my weaknesses. 6Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because
I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than
is warranted by what I do or say.
 7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great
revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to
torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But
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 about my weaknesses, so
that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in
weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am
weak, then I am strong.

MEDITATION
1. When we tell people that God guarantees his children health and wealth in
this life, or if they only have enough faith, they’ll be healed, that’s not true.
Paul prayed with total confidence, only to learn that the answer was no.  He
learned in time that the weakness which devastated him was truly a gift from
God.  A gift that enabled him to experience God’s grace, presence, and power,
in ways he would never have experienced them otherwise.  So, when tragedy
strikes and disaster comes, God will give his own strange gifts as we grow in
our dependence on him.  As we seek His strength, we’ll discover a depth to
our relationship with the Lord that we would otherwise never have known.
And a strength that makes weakness a triumph and a joy.
2. What is my weakness?  Have I received God’s gift?  How does this gift help
me experience God’s power and grace?

Personal Note:
Paul had a thorn in the flesh.  I have weaknesses in the area of self-confidence, vision, leadership...  The weakness enables me to rely heavily on God instead of believing that I can do things for the kingdom of God apart from His grace.  God has given me the gift of His guidance through the Holy Spirit.  I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.

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.