Weakness: January 25, 2013

TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY JANUARY 25, 2013.

WEAKNESS

DEFINITION:

Lack of strength, firmness, vigor or feebleness; an inadequate or shortcoming; not able to withstand temptation; a defective quality.

SCRIPTURE:

And He said unto me, "My grace is sufficient for you; for My strength is made perfect in weakness." II Corinthians 12:9.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

When Peter first met Jesus he was known as Simon, son of John. Jesus first words to Simon were, “You will be called Cephas”( which means Peter) John 1:42. Cephas (Peter) means rock. Throughout the life of Simon Peter he proved to be a fragile stone at times and at other times a solid rock. He displayed, at times, moments of unbelievable courage, but in a moment of time showed spiritual failure. Peter’s weakness often caused him to stumble, but he steadfastly continued to follow Jesus.

After Peter declared Jesus as Christ, the Son of God, Jesus said to him as recorded in Matthew 16:18, "I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

Jesus saw the strength of Peter's faith but He also knew Peter's weaknesses. Peter often reacted on impulse without thinking. When Jesus told the disciples He must suffer and die, Peter took Jesus aside to argue with Him saying, "Never Lord! This shall never happen to You." (Matthew 16:22)

Peter had strong faith that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, but seemed to think that he knew better than Jesus as to what should happen. Peter was weak in his understanding and in his trust that all things are in God’s control. While Jesus was on trial Peter showed himself to be weak when he denied he knew Jesus, not once, but three times, just as Jesus had warned him that that was what he would do.

Peter proved to be a fragile stone when he tried to dissuade Jesus from going to the cross and when he denied Jesus three times after His arrest. Even though Peter had his weaknesses he was made perfect in God's strength and he went on to do great things for the Lord. Peter proved to be a strong rock as the foundational leader of the church after Jesus’ return to heaven.

Peter’s life reminds us that no amount of personal strength or ability can make us adequate for this life and its challenges. We are all, FRAGILE STONES, and need to put our total dependence on our Lord for our strength. Yes, Christ's strength can empower us in our own weaknesses to be able to deal with the challenges we face in this world.

God uses our weaknesses to reveal to us His sufficiency. It is when we acknowledge our weaknesses that we see our need to rely on God's strength and not our own. This is what the Lord said to Paul in the verse we wrote above, that His grace is sufficient and his strength is made perfect in weakness. Our weaknesses keep us humble and allow God to demonstrate His power.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Galatians 2:20.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

PRAYER:

Help our family today to realize that in the natural we are fragile stones and we need to rely on Your strength and enabling power. Help us to grow spiritually each day by reading Your Word and communicating to You through prayer. Give us a blessed day today.