“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.‘“ – 2 Corinthians 12:8-9a

Quite often the best answer God gives to our prayers isn’t to give us what we want, but to give us more of Him! We often treat God like a cosmic Santa Claus who gives us whatever we ask for. He is not. He is far better!

For those who love and pursue Him in Christ, He teaches us that there’s nothing better or more precious than a closer and deeper relationship with Him. Often the struggles we face in this life aren’t simply obstacles To overcome, but invitations to experience God’s grace more richly and fully every moment of every day.

As we continue to slog through 2020, remember that one of God’s greatest apostles was denied what he desperately prayed for. Nonetheless, Paul had the wisdom to understand that what God gave him instead was infinitely better.

Seek the grace, love, and power of God every day. Pursue Him daily by reading and meditating on His Word, praying, and worshiping (both publicly and privately). Cry out to Him honestly and find your true strength and satisfaction not in physical health or material wealth, but in the person, presence, and power of Christ in you!

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 11:30

Paul’s boast would have been just as shocking and countercultural 2000 years ago as it is today! Humans have always valued strength and accomplishment. To admit weakness, much less celebrate it, has generally been socially unacceptable. Yet Christians are called to celebrate our weakness because it reveals God’s strength!

As Christians, we need to be honest with ourselves and others. We need to be authentic about our struggles, failures, and weaknesses. By so doing, we’re able to see the times in our lives when God met us in our weakness, strengthening and carrying us to a better future in Him.

As a follower of Christ, if you haven’t yet had this experience, then perhaps you haven’t yet come to terms with all that you can’t do by your own smarts, skills, savings, or strength. Nonetheless, that day will likely come! When it does, it will be painful. However, there will also be power and grace in it. There is beauty when we finally come to the end of ourselves and surrender our hopeless situation to the God Who was already ready to carry its weight.

As we reflect on these difficult seasons, we grow to understand why Paul was so eager to boast in his weaknesses. What are the weaknesses you want to boast about???

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” – 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

We live in such a confusing time! There are so many conflicting voices on just about every issue we face, and many of these voices claim to speak for Christ and Christians. How can this be possible? Some are legitimately in disagreement over difficult issues, but some of these Christian voices are actually serving Satan, whether they realize it or not! They do so by subtly drawing us away from Christ, away from the cross, and toward finding authority, fulfillment, and satisfaction in something or someone else. That is Adversary’s work!

How can we be discerning as followers of Jesus? Should we simply be persuaded by the loudest, most relentless, most pleasant, most persuasive, most popular, or most controversial voices? No! We must look deeper, seeing past the disguises.

We must first look at what’s being taught – is it Scriptural and consistent with the entirety of the Bible? We know Satan can quote Scripture, which is why many deceivers draw in the faithful with a few twisted verses. Is what’s being taught consistent with the entirety of the Bible, the nature of God, and the work of Christ? We must each know and grow in what we know of God’s Word, every single day.

Then we must look at the life and character of the one doing the teaching. Is it godly? Is the Fruit of the Spirit prominently on display in his or her life? Many so-called Christian leaders who’ve been revealed for their falseness could have been detected by simply asking where was their love? Their joy? Their peace? Their patience? Their kindness? Their goodness? Their faithfulness? Their gentleness? Their self-control?

If a loud and plausible sounding “Christian” leader is missing these qualities, he or she is probably not a servant of righteousness. Stay alert, for these days are evil!

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” – Colossians 3:23-24

As we observe Labor Day and mark the unofficial end of a very strange summer, it’s helpful to remember for Whom we actually work. It’s not our boss. It’s not ourselves. It’s not our shareholders or CEO. It’s the Living God of the Universe! For this reason, there is dignity, significance, and purpose in doing every job of every kind as well as we possibly can!

As teachers and students prepare for online learning, it’s helpful to remember that whatever the inadequacies, deficiencies, and defects of this new model, we still serve and glorify God by investing our best efforts in the task that lies before us.

Whenever we’re tempted to give up or “phone it in”, let us remember Who the true judge of our efforts is and the ultimate reward we who are in Christ will receive from Him. Let us run with renewed energy the race that lies before us all of our days, yearning to hear that glorious commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

“You are to regard only the Lord of Armies as holy.
Only he should be feared;
only he should be held in awe.”
– Isaiah 8:13

At a time when we’re surrounded by so many things that could fill us with overwhelming, paralyzing fear, it’s helpful to remember that God is greater than all of these things!

Likewise, there’s so much anger and anxiety in society right now and the best cure for all of it is to step back and let ourselves be filled with the awesome person, presence, and majesty of the Lord God.

We must not elevate earthly things, concerns, or even prominent human leaders higher in our minds than is appropriate. Only God is holy!

We must not elevate the threats we face, serious as they are, higher than is appropriate in our imaginations. Let us reserve our awe, respect, honor, and fear for the Almighty. Let us draw strength from the knowledge that He created us, He loves us, He hears our prayers, He gave His unique Son Jesus as a sacrifice for us, He redeems us by grace through faith in Jesus, He embraces us, He adopts us, He forgives us, He comforts us, and He is always present with everyone who is in Christ.