For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV)
(2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV)
"I take pleasure in infirmities ...Let us take notice, then, that infirmity is a general term, and that under it is comprehended the weakness of our nature, as well as all tokens of abasement. Now the point in question was Paul’s outward abasement. He proceeded farther, for the purpose of showing, that the Lord humbled him in every way, that, in his defects, the glory of God might shine forth the more resplendently, which is, in a manner, concealed and buried, when a man is in an elevated position. He now again returns to speak of his excellences, which, at the same time, made him contemptible in public view, instead of procuring for him esteem and commendation.
For when I am weak, that is — “The
more deficiency there is in me, so much the more liberally does the
Lord, from his strength, supply me with
whatever he sees to be needful for me.” For the fortitude of
philosophers is nothing else than contumacy, or rather a mad
enthusiasm, such as fanatics are accustomed to have. “If a man
is desirous to be truly strong,
let him not refuse to be at the same time weak Let him,” I say, “be weak in himself that he may be strong in the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:10.)
Should any one object, that Paul speaks here, not of a failure of
strength, but of poverty, and other afflictions, I answer,
that all these things are exercises for discovering to us our
own weakness; for if God had
not exercised Paul with such trials, he would never have
perceived so clearly his weakness. Hence, he has in view not
merely poverty, and hardships of every kind, but also those
effects that arise from them, as, for example, a feeling of our
own weakness, self-distrust, and humility."
What a loving God we serve who works in our weaknesses through our trials to bring us to Him.
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