2 Corinthians 13:4–For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.

If you think about the reason why pride is held onto by many of us, instead of allowing ourselves to admit weakness, is because what is esteemed in society are not those who are needing assistance.  Though all of us will be inevitably weak physically and can no longer deny the effects of aging.  It is foolish not for us to admit we are already weak in many ways, and need God’s power to effect people for change…(Matthew 26:41, Romans 5:6)

The apostle Paul throughout his teachings to the Corinthian church, belabored the reality of how weak he was, in order to be truly strong in Christ.  That to pretend otherwise, would not only forfeit his ability to supernaturally effect the people.  But living in denial of his own reality, would keep him from a close relationship with Jesus, because of pride…(2 Corinthians 12:9, James 4:6)

When it comes to Christianity, to live searching to be proud of ourselves is truly a contradiction to what the goal should be.  The goal is to live for the glory of Jesus Christ, but too many times we find ourselves being defined by our strengths, gifts, and talents.  Which is a natural desire for self-worth when we don’t know Jesus.  So we lived to show only our gifts and talents, because we we’re good at them, and could live “proud of ourselves” and esteemed by others.  But sadly never dealing with the reality of our weaknesses, because of the shame they brought…

The more closely I walk with Jesus, the more I realize God’s blessings of gifts and talents, but His grace won’t let me deny how weak I am.  I believe the Lord never wanted me to find my identity in what I have accomplished or what I am gifted in doing.  So He and I can move onto deeper things of the soul, that I find greater appreciation for Jesus there and the power to serve others…(2 Corinthians 12:8)

If we don’t come to accept that we are most “strong when we are weak”, as the apostle Paul had, we will feel hopeless in weakness.  That mentality comes from accepting the “world’s” view of weak, in pretending we don’t need God.  Compared to the Lord’s view of weak, where we accept that reality, so we’ll seek to be close to Jesus and effective in serving others through His power…(2 Corinthians 12:10)

In His Love, Ld