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BOAST

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

When I was a young Christian, still in the Navy, some of my brothers who leaned a little more charismatic than myself attempted to “assure” me that to wallow in our weaknesses was to “deny our victory in Jesus.” It was unsettling to me, but I didn’t have the wherewithal to refute it at the time. The problem is our victory. Certainly, the doctrine of God’s grace expresses that we have received a heavenly gift in salvation, so it is indeed ours; nevertheless, it is Christ’s victory through and through. His victory is ours inasmuch as we enjoy and dwell in the riches and benefits of His victory. Paul asserts that Christ’s power is contrary to his own power, because if he is not weak, then he has strength of his own; and this cannot be said of the spiritual child of God. The arm of the flesh opposes the power of the Spirit (Gal 5:17). Our actions done in our own strength will have, as Mr. Spurgeon puts it, “no room for Christ’s strength.” Our boast may or not be verbal; but it doesn’t have to be vocalized for the benefit of others. It’s right here in God’s Word. Yet, the joyful boast of our weaknesses is always internal. Each time you and I boast in our weakness, our flesh is subdued because the Spirit is exalted and our Lord Jesus is glorified thereby. Why? Christ’s power comes upon us because His presence dwells within (rest upon) us. The word ‘rest’ comes from a compound Greek word which contains the root meaning, to dwell or tabernacle with. John used this root in his gospel:

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (emphasis added)

When we gladly boast in our weaknesses, the risen and ascended Word dwelling with us and in us, comes upon us with power, and we are empowered in Christ’s strength to bring Him glory by His strength, full of grace and truth. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

We gladly boast as poor and weak
For our strength does come from
The only Pow’r our souls should seek:
God’s one and only Son.

Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)

9/23 Reading Portions: 2 Samuel 19; 2 Corinthians 12; Ezekiel 26; Psalm 74