Ruth's Ramblings

Boasting about weaknesses

To 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. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That 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. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despited things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)

First time in my life that I am starting to really identify on a personal level with Paul's words. Realizing the importance of me being constantly broken (weak) so that God will work in and through me. His strength is made perfect in my weakness, and for that, I will be glad to be broken and weak. The less of me, the better. May God's glory come out because I am weak.

Posted by Ruth at 5/13/2004