“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.” – II Corinthians 12:10
To progress in our Christian life we must examine ourselves. And, the only way to do that is to look at the Word of God. Sometimes we think we’re doing quite well when we’re not. If we would simply look at our life in the light of what the Bible describes as a well lived life we would see that we are missing the mark. I hope you will do that as you contrast your life to that of Paul as described in our text.
Vance Havner wrote, “Paul turned his stumbling-blocks into stepping-stones. John Bunyan in Bedford jail, Fanny Crosby in a prison of blindness “out of weakness were made strong.” Long is the list of saints through the ages who have turned minus to plus by the grace of God.
Paul gloried in infirmities. We glory in strength. Paul gloried in tribulation. Most of us grumble. The Christian does not resent his affliction. He does not merely resign himself to it. He rises above it and transmutes it into a blessing. He is “more than conqueror.”
This kind of book-keeping turns liabilities into assets. This world cannot understand it. What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ,” says Paul. And then what seems loss he turns to gain.
We hear of people who “lose the savings of a lifetime.” But what you really save in a lifetime is what you lay up in heaven, and you cannot lose that. And out of earth’s darkest day you can coin heavenly wealth. Turn your minus to plus!”
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
