Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises Day 198 – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – Christ’s Power – Growing As Disciples
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. 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 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)
Your Power
You feel weak quite often don’t you? I’m not exactly sure what you mean. You feel unable to do what I am calling you to do, isn’t that right? Yes, that is right. It’s not all bad that you feel weak. Why is that? What’s the alternative? The opposite of feeling weak is feeling strong. You would much rather feel strong than weak, isn’t that true? Yes, that’s true. Would you rather that I gave you easier assignments? Would that make you feel stronger? Would you only like to do tasks for me that were easy to accomplish? That sounds boring to me. That’s what I knew you would say.
What has happened to you when I have given you a difficult assignment? My first reaction has been to feel weak and unable to do what you have asked me to do. Sometimes, I have tried to duck the assignment by asking to do something else that was easier. How has that worked out for you? You have not usually let me off the hook. You have continued to give me the difficult assignment. What has been your second reaction? Once I have said yes to you, I then begin to pray and ask for your help. Yes, that’s very good. So, would you say that your weakness has caused you to rely on my strength? Yes, that’s exactly what I would say. Isn’t that a very good thing? Yes, it is. If I gave you only easy tasks to do for me, who would you rely on for your strength? I would rely on myself. That’s not good is it? No, it is not.
When my power works through your weakness what happens? I am then able to bear an abundance of fruit for you. Who gets the glory for the fruit that I bear in and through your life? All the fruit that I bear is for your kingdom and your glory. People know that only your power working in and through me has accomplished what you have given me to do. Yes, that’s right. Would people see me working in and through your life in the very easy and boring tasks that you have sometimes wanted to do for me? No, they would not.
What has happened to your faith as I have worked powerfully in and through your weakness? My faith in you has grown as I have seen you do in and through me what only you could have done. Would your faith in me grow if I gave you only easy tasks to do for me? No, it would not.
Can you see that your weakness provides an opportunity for me to work in and through your life? Your weakness makes you rely on me. Your weakness helps you to bear more fruit for me. Your weakness allows your life to be a clearer and brighter witness for me. What do you think about your weakness now? My weakness allows your power to be on display in and through my life. Yes, it does. So, I am thankful that I am weak and you are strong. That’s very good.
Lord, I have so many weaknesses. You have so many different ways that you can powerfully work in and through my life for your glory. I will rely on you and your strength to enable me to do whatever you call me to do for you. Amen
Key Question… Why will the Lord frequently call you to do what you are unable to do with your own strength alone?
Living It Out… Rely on God to work in and through your life in spite of all your weaknesses so that He will be glorified.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will work in and through your life in spite of all your weaknesses.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has powerfully worked in and through your weaknesses.
Prayer To Bless Others… In your weakness may you allow the power of Christ to work in and through you.
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