Proper 9
July 5, 2009
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 * Psalm 48 * 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 * Mark 6:1-13
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
2 I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. 3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4 that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.
5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, ”My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Over the years, there have been times when God places certain themes in front of me – lately God has been placing the theme of trials in front of me. Here we learn about a trial that was part of Paul’s life. He prayed for it to go away, but it stayed there. God told Paul, that “My grace is all you need.” I don’t know what you may be going through today – but God’s grace is enough. Another reminder from Paul is that trials produce endurance and endurances produces hope. Have a great day.
