2 Corinthians 12:10 (NASBStr)
Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
In the last three chapters of 2 Corinthians the Apostle is writing a very tense portion to the members and leaders of the Corinthian church. It is apparent that someone there was questioning Paul's authority, sincerity and apostleship. Even though they readily even accepted false teachers in a pleasant manner, they were resistant to him and his words, despite the fact that he was the one that brought the gospel to them, didn't take any support from them and spoke the truth consistently in front of them. To demonstrate his authority he has given them several arguments - one of which is the many times he has been persecuted or in pain for the gospel. Because of the obstinate treatment of his authority and concern he was (according to his reasoning) forced to boast about his own Apostleship and credibility. However, after giving much evidence of his Apostleship, Paul now stops his boasting and, in fact, confesses that God gave him a "thorn in the flesh" so that he would be forced to trust God through all of this ministry. Paul knew the human spirit. He knew that most men live to be worshipped. In fact they worship themselves more than anyone else. He also knew that God was gracious and gave him this thorn (bad sight, bad health, surrounded by people who doubted his authority?) to keep him humble and trusting in God. His conclusion, seen in the above verse, was to maintain that God gave him these distresses and persecutions and difficulties to keep him weak and dependent upon Christ. It is Christ that we are to have at the center and to worship. God allowed these things (Paul concludes) to make sure the Apostle's every breath cried out for God's strength and he could take credit for nothing. God kept Paul in a state a weakness. God wants us to call upon Him for strength, not our knowledge, position or experiences. Even though Paul used all three of those to claim some authority to speak to the Corinthian believers the way he was, in reality all of this was to keep Paul trusting in his Savior for strength. It is in those times that we come to really know Christ. When we are in our weakest times that is in our best of times. God is perfecting us IN WEAKNESS. The world thinks the way to get better is to get stronger, smarter, faster, or more beautiful. God says the way to get perfected is to get weaker and more dependent upon Christ.
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