21/02/2014
Daily Devotional February 21 2014
Bible Reading: 2cor.: 12:1-31
“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” Whatever God permits to come our way, He provides us grace to bear. His grace is always sufficient for our challenges and His strength shines brightest in the midst of our weaknesses. Therefore, whatever situation you find yourself, realize that you have what it takes to triumph over it through the grace of God. All you need to do is ask God for the abundant supply of that grace. But on the other hand we must not make the mistake of welcoming every problem and difficulty that shows up in our lives as though they are sent by God. God does not sent His children problems and difficulties. He is a good and loving God and doesn’t enjoy watching His children suffer so as to “teach them something.” God’s preferred way of teaching us anything is through His word. It is when we become disobedient and self-willed that He disciplines us as a good father does. Most of the problems that come are way are caused by the Devil and/or the wickedness of this sinful world and that is why we must learn how to stand on the word of God to overcome them - rather than accepting them as God’s will for our lives. For the avoidance of doubt, God never sends His people sicknesses, diseases, poverty, failure, frustrations, disappointment, divorce, bareness, perennial singlehood and such like. Jesus Christ our Lord died to take these maladies away from us – so why would God put them back on His people? They are not from God and should be resisted and rejected. Sometimes believers are quick to claim that their problem is a thorn in the flesh sent to them by God. Why would God send you a thorn in the flesh? Do you qualify for it? Have you (like the apostle Paul) been taken to the third heaven and to see and hear things that are too wonderful for mortal ears? Have you been given extra ordinary abundance of revelations into the mysteries of God and His kingdom? Has God been performing extra-ordinary miracles by your hands such that it becomes necessary for Him to keep you humble by allowing a thorn in your flesh? In all probability, the answer is NO! So don’t allow the enemy to give you bone to chew in the name of a “thorn in the flesh”!