Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 208 – Hebrews 11:32-34 – Weakness Was Turned To Strength – Growing As Disciples
How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Hebrews 11:32-34 (NLT)
Weaknesses
You have them. You have ignored them. You have tried to deny them. But you can’t get around or go over them. You would be insufferable and proud and arrogant without them. If you did not have them, you would almost certainly rely on yourself rather than on me. You have piqued my interest. You have gotten my attention. I am listening attentively to you. What are we talking about here? You have weaknesses. Yes, I do, of that I have no doubts. Let me be clear about this, I have not been happy with all my weaknesses. You are correct. I have ignored my weaknesses. I have tried to deny my weaknesses. I have tried to get around or go over them. I have asked you to remove them. Asked, is too mild of a word. I have begged for you to remove my weaknesses. Yet, here they are and here they remain. Would you rely on me if you had no weaknesses? Would you ask for my help if you had no weakness? Would your faith in me grow stronger if it was only you accomplishing my purposes and fulfilling my plans? Would you ever ask for anyone’s help if you could go and do my will without my or anyone else’s help? Is there any chance that you wouldn’t become insufferably proud and arrogant if you never needed help? Would you even want to go and do my will if there will no limits to what you could do? Is there any chance that I would receive any honor and glory if all your work depended solely on you? What do you think? I think that you have asked me a lot of questions. But I do get your point. Instead of resenting my weaknesses, I would do well to give thanks for them. My weaknesses have kept me coming to you. My weaknesses have caused me to keep on relying on you. My weaknesses have helped keep my life on track. How so? How far can I drift away from you when I desperately need your help? Not far, is the answer and for that I am grateful and thankful to you. Thank you, that I have weaknesses that cause me to rely on you rather than on myself. Thank you that I have been able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name because you have worked in and through my weaknesses. I now see that my weaknesses are a gift from you. You are wise to come to understand that your weaknesses are a gift from me. I will keep on working in and through your weaknesses. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, I am so very weak. In my own strength, under my own power, with all my efforts, I can accomplish nothing. I almost said next to nothing. But nothing is the right word. Work in and through my weakness to accomplish your purposes for your glory alone. Amen
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