Daily Bible Study

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Day 132 2 Corinthians 12:1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. 7 Lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. People boast to make themselves out to be more than they are so people will like them. However, most times such boasting backfires and the person doing the boasting becomes friendless. Paul didn’t boast in himself. He knew it didn’t benefit him to make such boasts. Instead, he boasted about someone else he saw and heard, but he wasn’t certain when he knew the person, only God knew. Did Paul make a boast about someone who didn’t exist? No. Paul was beaten and left for dead. Acts 14:19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. (NKJV) Paul referred to the time they stoned him and left him for dead. During that time, before the disciples prayed for him, he saw the vision he described about a man who ascended to the third heaven and heard inexpressible words. He didn’t want to become boastful because such people were fools. Instead, God gave him a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan, to buffet him, keep him in check, lest he exalt himself above measure. When he asked God to remove the thorn, God told him His grace was sufficient because His strength was made perfect in weakness. Paul told the people he would gladly boast in his infirmities because it showed the power of God. Only in weakness did God reveal His power and he was strong. Many Christians boast. Yesterday, I talked about boasting and how it caused people to avoid such people. Paul continued to speak about boasting. He said people who boasted showed themselves to be fools when they boast about their own exploits. You know people like that. However, it isn’t wrong to boast when you boast about what the Lord does and give glory to Him in what He does through you. It isn’t wrong to boast about other people. However, when you let people know the reason, you’re weak in your work is because you glorify God in what He does through you, then you show God’s power in your life. You take the spotlight off yourself and put it where it belongs, on Jesus. Paul had an infirmity he begged God to take from him. Instead, God told him His grace was sufficient because His power was made perfect in his weakness. When you pray and ask God to heal you of a problem in your life and He doesn’t heal you, do you give up on God’s work in your life? Many people turn from God when they don’t see Him answering their prayers. They don’t realize He accomplishes His greatest work in your life through your weakness. When people see you work through your infirmities, they see God’s power and glorify Him. Boast about what God does through you. Let people know that your weakness will not stop you from proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. When you do, you will gain more people for the kingdom than you would if you boasted about your strength and what you accomplished. Let’s pray: Father, let me boast in what You do in my life. Don’t let my problems keep me from Your greatest work. Let people see You in everything I say and do. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 25 November 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.