READING: Jeremiah 8-10, 2 Corinthians 11
I cannot imagine the pressure on the apostle Paul as he served the Lord. He faced stress and opposition I’ve never faced. In fact, in today’s world where the prosperity gospel has gained a foothold around the globe, what Paul faced for his faithfulness would seem to suggest anything but prosperity:
“Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.” (2 Cor 11:24-28)
Paul bore the burden of persecution and carried the weight of pastoral concern as he followed God fully. He spoke these words as he felt the need to defend himself against his opponents, but he strikingly landed in the place where he would boast only about his weaknesses. He knew, as he would write in the next section of this letter, that God’s strength was most evident in his life when Paul was weak. Doing His work through human weakness is one of God’s primary tools for bringing glory to His name.
PRAYER: “Lord, bring me to the place where I find strength in weakness.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Weekend is for catch-up and review
MONDAY’S READING: Jeremiah 11-13, 2 Corinthians 12
