HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1425
2 COR INTHIANS 13
page 1055
So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work
through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my
weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
• Strengths &
Weaknesses
2 C OR I N THI A N S 12:8-10
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians
11 You have made me act like a fool. You ought
to be writing commendations for me, for I am
not at all inferior to these “super apostles,”
even though I am nothing at all. 12 When I was
with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an
apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you. 13 The only thing
I failed to do, which I do in the other churches,
was to become a financial burden to you. Please
forgive me for this wrong!
14 Now I am coming to you for the third time,
and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want
what you have—I want you. After all, children
don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents
provide for their children. 15 I will gladly spend
myself and all I have for you, even though it
seems that the more I love you, the less you
love me.
16 Some of you admit I was not a burden to
you. But others still think I was sneaky and took
advantage of you by trickery. 17 But how? Did
any of the men I sent to you take advantage of
you? 18 When I urged Titus to visit you and sent
our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit
and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the
same way.
19 Perhaps you think we’re saying these things
just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as
Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness.
Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen
you. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I won’t
like what I find, and you won’t like my response.
I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy,
anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance,
and disorderly behavior. 21 Yes, I am afraid that
when I come again, God will humble me in
your presence. And I will be grieved because
many of you have not given up your old sins.
You have not repented of your impurity, sexual
immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.
Most of us emphasize, exaggerate, and
sell our strengths while hiding, denying,
or compensating for our weaknesses. Yet
deep inside, we are only too aware of our
charade, and we live in desperate fear that
our weaknesses will be exposed. Paul
discovered that the secret of coping with
weakness is dependence on the power
and love of Christ. Our weaknesses can
be confessed and accepted, for they
actually become opportunities for God to
demonstrate his strength and goodness
through us! We can confess our weaknesses openly and celebrate the power
of Christ, who loves us, redeems us, and
uses even our weaknesses for his glory.
Paul’s Final Advice
This is the third time I am coming to
visit you (and as the Scriptures say,
“The facts of every case must be established
by the testimony of two or three witnesses”*).
2 I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit. Now
I again warn them and all others, just as I did
before, that next time I will not spare them.
3 I will give you all the proof you want that
When you are tired and feeling down,
remember that Christ’s suffering on the
cross revealed a Savior who walked every
weary path of weakness or suffering
that you have walked. His resurrection
revealed a new life filled with the power of
God. In our resurrected bodies, our human
weakness will be set aside, and we will
share in the power and strength of Christ.
Even now we may share in his resurrection
power by walking with him.
13
13:1 Deut 19:15.
• Failure
2 C OR I N THI A N S 12:9
It is obvious that none of us can be
successful in every area of life; there are
a number of things we will never do well.
We do “pretty well” at other things, but
at times we won’t even do those things
well. We let people down. We botch a
job. How do we deal with failure? In this
passage, Paul explains a truth that has an
unexpected twist. God often works best
through our weaknesses. In this way, his
power is revealed more clearly, and we
are prevented from taking credit for what
God has done. So if you feel like a failure,
take heart. God may be ready to use you
to accomplish something very significant
for him.
• Rest
2 C OR I N THI A N S 13:4