In God's Hands
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
"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."
(2 Corinthians 12:9)
I read the graphic wartime story written by WW2 veteran R.V. Burgin who fought with the USMC through the Pacific Islands. Before an invasion he would offer the simple prayer, "God, I'm in your hands. Take care of me." Many years of ministry with the Far East Broadcasting Company during the war in SEA brought my wife and me to Okinawa, where Burgin also fought. I talked with men headed into combat who uttered that same simple prayer.
The Apostle Paul, who faced personal struggle (ch. 12), and suffering for Christ (ch. 11), learned the same principle of trusting God. God's grace truly is sufficient for the struggle. Paul knew his life was in God's hands, and the special manifestation of His power, beyond human understanding, would allow him to press on.
That's God's promise to us also. His grace is all-sufficient for us in life's challenges, battles and tragedies. As a little child is comforted by placing his hand in Mommy's, so are we when the Lord wraps His loving hand around us.
INSIGHT
Not only are you safe in His hands, but also right next to the nail scars, your name is engraved.
(See Isaiah 49:16.)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 7-8
Psalm 46
Luke 9
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Paul’s Vision and His Thorn
1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 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. 10 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.
Confused Priorities
Haggai 2:1-9
"'But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, 'declares the Lord. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the Lord, 'and work. For I am with you.'"
(Haggai 2:4)
The people of Judah had been exiled to Babylon in 586 B.C., the temple and Jerusalem destroyed. Now, the returning Jews who began rebuilding their temple were sidetracked and failing to complete the job. On behalf of God, Haggai confronted the people of their own selfishness and of living in beautiful homes while allowing God's house to sit unfinished. Putting their own desires and possessions ahead of God, they confused their priorities.
There's something that hits close to home with this passage. The world and its cares hold sway over us, too, and it's easy to lose sight of our calling to be students of and ambassadors for Christ. In just one verse, Haggai's word to the people from the Lord admonishes them three times to "be strong." This Hebrew word means binding and girding, the opposite of careless, or faith-heartedness. It's just what we need to hear, also! God's Spirit remains upon us; His presence empowers and strengthens us, binding and girding us for His service and His priorities.
INSIGHT
God has chosen us to be His agents, working with His resources. He is seeking out willing hearts and hands.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 9-10
Psalm 47
Luke 10
Haggai 2:1-9
1 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 2 "Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak,[a] the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty. 5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
6 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty. 9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty."
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
"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."
(2 Corinthians 12:9)
I read the graphic wartime story written by WW2 veteran R.V. Burgin who fought with the USMC through the Pacific Islands. Before an invasion he would offer the simple prayer, "God, I'm in your hands. Take care of me." Many years of ministry with the Far East Broadcasting Company during the war in SEA brought my wife and me to Okinawa, where Burgin also fought. I talked with men headed into combat who uttered that same simple prayer.
The Apostle Paul, who faced personal struggle (ch. 12), and suffering for Christ (ch. 11), learned the same principle of trusting God. God's grace truly is sufficient for the struggle. Paul knew his life was in God's hands, and the special manifestation of His power, beyond human understanding, would allow him to press on.
That's God's promise to us also. His grace is all-sufficient for us in life's challenges, battles and tragedies. As a little child is comforted by placing his hand in Mommy's, so are we when the Lord wraps His loving hand around us.
INSIGHT
Not only are you safe in His hands, but also right next to the nail scars, your name is engraved.
(See Isaiah 49:16.)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 7-8
Psalm 46
Luke 9
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Paul’s Vision and His Thorn
1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 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. 10 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.
Confused Priorities
Haggai 2:1-9
"'But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, 'declares the Lord. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the Lord, 'and work. For I am with you.'"
(Haggai 2:4)
The people of Judah had been exiled to Babylon in 586 B.C., the temple and Jerusalem destroyed. Now, the returning Jews who began rebuilding their temple were sidetracked and failing to complete the job. On behalf of God, Haggai confronted the people of their own selfishness and of living in beautiful homes while allowing God's house to sit unfinished. Putting their own desires and possessions ahead of God, they confused their priorities.
There's something that hits close to home with this passage. The world and its cares hold sway over us, too, and it's easy to lose sight of our calling to be students of and ambassadors for Christ. In just one verse, Haggai's word to the people from the Lord admonishes them three times to "be strong." This Hebrew word means binding and girding, the opposite of careless, or faith-heartedness. It's just what we need to hear, also! God's Spirit remains upon us; His presence empowers and strengthens us, binding and girding us for His service and His priorities.
INSIGHT
God has chosen us to be His agents, working with His resources. He is seeking out willing hearts and hands.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 9-10
Psalm 47
Luke 10
Haggai 2:1-9
1 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 2 "Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak,[a] the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty. 5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
6 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty. 9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty."
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