Weakness: March 13, 2014

TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY MARCH 13, 2014

WEAKNESS

DEFINITION:

Lacking physical strength or endurance; lacking moral or mental strength or firmness.

SCRIPTURE:

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. II Corinthians 12:9-10.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

All of us go through times in our lives when we feel weakness. We may feel weak physically so that we feel that we cannot carry on. At other times we may feel weak spiritually knowing that we desperately need a special touch from God. We can look at the lives of Samson, Joseph and Paul and see that they had weaknesses that they had to face.

In Judges 16 we read about Samson, who was so strong that he could kill a lion with his bare hands. He possessed physical strength that was unequalled by any human being. But all of his physical strength could not compensate for his inner weakness. Samson’s problem was totally uncontrolled lust and because of this weakness he lost his sight, his strength, his honor and his life.

In Judges 14 we read about Joseph, who was in a great place of power. He faced similar temptations as Samson but responded very differently. He proved that it is possible to deal with your weaknesses so they will not destroy you. Joseph rejected the temptations he faced and put his trust in God, relying on God’s strength to overcome his weakness.

In the verses we have written above from II Corinthians the apostle Paul had been struggling with some painful aspects of life, including some physical afflictions, and he kept praying daily for God to remove them from his life. God’s message to Paul was in the verse above. In our weakness God’s power is made perfect and God’s grace is sufficient to meet our every need. This is the secret of true Christian strength. It is by God’s grace and through His enabling power. It is not outward impressiveness, not great prestige, pomp and favor; not degrees, honors and awards.

Ray Stedman gave us some wonderful thoughts in his book “Adventuring through the Bible.” He wrote that spiritual power never lies in human pride and might. Neither does it lie in a brilliant personality or in the ability to speak with eloquent oratory. Spiritual power is found in the heart of the humble human being who fully recognizes his or her dependence on the living Lord who dwells within all who receive Jesus as their Savior. The weaker you are, the stronger Christ can be.

May we remind you that “Out of weakness comes strength.” In II Corinthians 3:5 Paul says it this way – none of us are sufficient of ourselves; our sufficiency comes from God. We are weak but God is strong and if we are willing to turn to God in our weakness He will strengthen us. Examine yourselves to see whether you are allowing the strength of your faith to overcome your weaknesses. Test yourselves.

All of us have areas of weaknesses. God wants these character flaws to make us aware of how totally dependent we are on Him. Weaknesses drive us into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him, but uncontrolled weaknesses wreak havoc in a person’s life. 

Given the slightest chance, sin will infiltrate your life and affect every aspect, including your faith, your integrity, your moral values, and your relationship with your family and friends. Nothing is off limits for sin. If you think differently and feel you are in control personally, Satan has already blinded you to spiritual truth that is in front of you now.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in John 14:3-4.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.

PRAYER:

Make me aware of my weaknesses and use them to make me more dependent on You. It is my prayer that Your Holy Spirit would work in my life today giving me strength, guidance and protection. Enable me to guide my family to be obedient to our Lord and may You help all of us to walk in Your ways.