The Power of Christ-2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Posted by on Mar 5, 2014 in Weekly Word | 0 comments
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 “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. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 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. 10 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 Corinzi 12:7-10 “E perché io non avessi a insuperbire per l’eccellenza delle rivelazioni, mi è stata messa una spina nella carne, un angelo di Satana, per schiaffeggiarmi affinché io non insuperbisca. 8 Tre volte ho pregato il Signore perché l’allontanasse da me; 9 ed egli mi ha detto: «La mia grazia ti basta, perché la mia potenza si dimostra perfetta nella debolezza». Perciò molto volentieri mi vanterò piuttosto delle mie debolezze, affinché la potenza di Cristo riposi su di me. 10 Per questo mi compiaccio in debolezze, in ingiurie, in necessità, in persecuzioni, in angustie per amore di Cristo; perché quando sono debole, allora sono forte.

     Here, Paul gives us insight into his spiritual life. He knew himself and he understood humanity. He knew that within himself there would be a tendency to think the work of God was dependent on him. Paul dealt constantly with attacks from the enemy. There is no clear definition of what this “thorn in the flesh” was but what is clear is the solution that was always present with Paul. His sufficiency was only in the power of Christ! When we spend our time following God’s solutions to our problems instead of asking why things happen, the grace of God will be strong in us. Notice the words “is made perfect” in verse 9. The passive form of the verb implies that this constant power resides in us; it keeps us from wavering from the perfect and secure relationship we have in Christ.

There are two powerful considerations that come to us whenever we are confronted with attacks from the enemy or from our own human weakness; it is the Christian paradox of strength and weakness. First, remember that regardless of any source of agitation in our life, Christ’s power rest in us. If we try to fight every issue in our own strength, we will soon be exhausted. When we rest in the Lord, our energy will be restored. Second, the power of Christ is also our source of strength in time of weakness. It is in these difficult and weak times that we truly understand that our dependency is in Him and NOT in our own talents, abilities or human ingenuity. Truly every battle is the Lord’s and the victory is His (1 Samuel 17:47).

Pray with me: Lord, I see myself just as Paul, the great Apostle, saw himself: I am in constant need of Your perfecting grace. Help me to remember that You will never leave me and Your strength will accompany me as I depend totally on You.



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