Change the Way You Think About Weakness
- Message Excerpt by
- Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9 Topic: Suffering
Audio Transcript
Christian Hedonism changes the way you think about disability and weakness. Paul was a thorn-pierced man, right? He had this thorn — this thorn in his flesh. He didn’t want to have it. He prayed to take it away. God would not take it away. Here’s what Jesus said: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Do you remember what Paul said next? It takes your breath away.
“My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness.”
He said, “Therefore” — this thorn, I don’t know what it was, but it was painful. “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly.” I just can’t believe that word. I can’t believe he said that. Yes, I do believe it. It’s in the Bible. I want to be that way when I’m broken and weak.
“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” This is what made him live, right? I want Christ to be magnified in living and dying, and my thorn, my wheelchair, I want him to be magnified in my life. Therefore, I will receive it gladly.
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of Joni Eareckson Tada’s paraplegic accident. Do you know why Joni has magnified Jesus? How she has magnified Jesus for fifty years? Answer: She sings. She sings for her life. She’s told me, “I would die in despair if I couldn’t sing to my Jesus in my paralysis.”
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