As an armchair general I enjoy the study of tactics and strategies of battle, and so I am familiar with one military axiom for commanders – “find your weakness and strengthen it.” Find out where you are vulnerable and then reinforce that place so that it is no longer vulnerable.
Of course, if you carry that idea out to its logical conclusion, eventually there will be no weak points. Everything about your forces will be strong. The same attitude can apply to our faith.
In his second letter to the church at Corinth Paul talks about our personal weaknesses. What does Jesus say about weaknesses? How should that make us feel? What does he mean by saying “when I am weak, then I am strong”?
As people dealing with our personalities we may not be able to carry out the military approach of strengthening our weak points. As believers we may not be able to strengthen the weak places of our faith. An honest appraisal of our abilities may show us that we are lacking in one area or another.
Paul was also aware of his own failings. Even though Paul is one of the greatest leaders and most influential people of the church we know today, still he had failings. He was far from perfect.
But he did not allow his failings and weaknesses to hinder the incredible ministry he did for God. Instead he remembered the declaration Jesus made to him, that the grace of Christ was enough to sustain Paul and the power of Christ would work through Paul’s weakness.
This may seem like one of those many impossibilities of our faith, but a close examination can show the logic behind it. If we are weak in this approach or that aspect of our faith the Spirit of God will work within us to strengthen that weakness. If the power of God reinforces our weak places then that weak place is no longer weak. It is now more powerful than ever because the Spirit of Christ is there.
As we approach our faith walk we should be aware that God can strengthen our weaknesses. He can be present in those places where we may normally fail and give us success through His grace and power.
DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you let God work in your weakness?
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