Paul wrote, “I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ may work through me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Does this make sense to you? It has confused many. We want to be freed from our weaknesses, not boast about them! But Paul gives us three reasons we may not have considered:

1. Our weakness prevents arrogance. Sometimes our weakness makes clear God’s involvement of our success. Gideon chose 32,000 men to fight the Mideonites. But God reduced his numbers to 300, making the odds 450:1. Gideon knew that only God could deliver them.

2. Our weakness produces fellowship. Strength produces independence (“I don’t need anyone else”), but our weakness forces us to depend upon each other. Vance Havner said, “Christians, like snowflakes, are frail, but when they stick together they can stop traffic.”

3. Our weakness creates compassion and ministry to others. Your greatest message and your most effective ministry will usually come out of your most difficult experiences. The things you’re most embarrassed about, most ashamed of, most reluctant to share, are the very tools God can use most powerfully to help others.

Tags: limitations, weak

Suzanne Bloch was an immigrant from Germany who often played chamber music with Albert Einstein and other prominent scientists. She said that Einstein, though an accomplished violinist, irritated his fellow musicians by not coming in on the beat. “You see, explained Bloch, “he couldn’t count.”

Einstein could project revolutionary theories about the cosmos, but he had difficulty with rhythmic counting. Despite his limitation, he remained an enthusiastic musician.

Each of us has abilities, but we also have our limitations. Some might be tempted to use our limitations as an excuse for not doing the things God has enabled us to do. Remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:3: “I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.” But he went anyway.

Tags: limitations, weak

The story is told that one-time heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali was seated in a commercial aircraft that was preparing for takeoff. Ali became famous for his braggadocios attitude toward his opponents, referring to himself as ‘Superman’. A flight attendant noticed that he had not have his seat-belt fastened and asked him kindly, “Excuse me, sir, but would you mind fastening your seat-belt?”

Ali, always having a good sense of humor, looked up with that saucy grin of his and said in a slow, gravelly voice, “Superman don’t need no seat-belt!”

Without missing a beat, the flight attendant fired back, “Superman don’t need no airplane, so how about fastening up!”

Now, we know that Ali was only joking, but Obadiah 1:3 says it well: “The pride of your heart has deceived you.” Has the pride of your gotten the best of you today. Reevaluate.

Tags: Muhammed Ali, pride, weak

Have you ever referred to someone as “loony” who had some bizarre behavior or ideas? That concept is behind the name of the zany cartoon characters on ‘Loony Tunes’. Another name for the moon is ‘Luna’, and people used to be considered crazy when they stared at the moon.

But, another possible origin for the term ‘loony’ might be from the bird named a loon. Loons have this hilarious half-run, half-flap across the water for hundreds of feet before getting enough speed to left into the air. The reason is they have solid bones, unlike most birds. The additional weight makes it difficult to get airborne.

Loons also look funny on land because their legs are set farther back on their bodies then other birds. Walking is so diffcult that many loons simply ascoot across land to their nesting places.

But, because of their weight and leg placement, loons can dive deeper, farther, and faster. This is essential for catching fish and escaping predators. That gives extra meaning to Hebrews 11:34, which says, “Out of weakness they were made strong.”

Tags: weak