When I Am Really Strong

 February 11, 2024

Sunday

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NASB 2020) 10 Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

People have been declining the Lord’s call because of their weaknesses for a long time. Moses said that he couldn’t talk very well. Gideon said he was the least of the least. Peter even told Jesus to depart from him because he was such a sinner. Yet, God continues to call the weak.

Many times I have heard from motivational speakers that we should lead from our strengths. While I would agree that we should serve through our gifts, leading from strength doesn’t match what the Lord can do. The problem with strengths is that we often don’t depend on the Lord’s strength when we act with our strengths. We get exactly what can be gotten with only our strengths.

I am afraid we think we have done much when we have done only what our strengths allow us. We amass fortunes, build huge church buildings and gather crowds out of our strengths. We see people changed by the power of the Lord with our weaknesses. Our weaknesses force us to rely on God’s strength.

Are you feeling weak? Good. The Lord can make use of you. You will not become so enamored with your own voice or looks or physique that you will depend upon yourself. You will humbly walk with God because you have no other strength. You do not count victories because of what you have done. You see His victories.

You may not have a parade in your name nor will the church name a building after you, but you will have the satisfaction that what has been done has been done by the power of the Lord. You may not even know the full extent of what has been accomplished because of your faithfulness. Does that matter? Not a bit! It wasn’t about you anyway.

Listen to the Lord’s calling rather than the voice that says that you can’t do what He calls you to do. Act in His strength. One day you will stand before the judgement seat of Christ and all that has done in His strength will be awarded to you. The rest of the stuff will just be burned up.