Tuesday, July 16, 2013

HARD WAY TO STRENGTH


HARD WAY TO STRENGTH

READ:
2 Corinthians 12:1-10

My strength is made perfect in
weakness. -2 Corinthians 12:9

Diamonds are beautiful and valuable gemstones, but their beginning is common carbon-black, dirty, and combustible.  Through years of intense heat and high pressure, they become pure and strong.  This makes them a good metaphor for spiritual strength; God uses intense outside forces to rid us of impurities and to perfect His strength in us.

God's strength is made perfect in our weakness, says the apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 12:9).  I wish this were not true because I have being weak.  Chemotherapy and radiation treatments taught me more than I ever wanted to know about physical weakness.  Then a minor event plunged me into a state of emotional weakness that caught me off guard.  After losing 3 feet of hair and being bald for nearly a year, one bad haircut should not have been a big deal.  But it was, and I felt silly for being so weak.  Some of us are able to create an illusion of strength and self-sufficiency.  But sudden loss of health, employment, or a treasured relationship is a startling reminder of our total dependence of God.

When we experience the fiery furnace of suffering-whether physical or emotional, whether persecution from without or humiliation from within-God's loving purpose is to make us pure and strong. - Julie Ackerman Link

God uses testing in our lives
To ride us of impurity
And teach us that our strength's in Him
And not in self-sufficiency. - Sper
********************************
Suffering is the fire that God uses to
Purify and strengthen us.

INSIGHT
Some claim that when Paul was caught up into paradise, he had a near-death experience (2 Corinthians 12:1-4).  However, it is notable that Paul was forbidden to describe the experience or build any doctrinal truth on it (v.4).

Have a blessed day and week ahead.
God Our Creator's Love Always
Unity & Peace

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