Jesus will make us strong

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Sanctification”

Our Bible verse for today: “Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Jesus will make us strong”

It’s really rather amazing how many verses and passages there are in the Bible that pertain to the opposition and outright persecution the people of God have faced throughout the course of Biblical history. There are hundreds. Additionally, beyond Scripture, the history of God’s people down through the ages has been one of opposition and persecution. In fact, seldom in history have there been extended periods when groups of God’s people have not faced opposition and persecution, and during those times when they haven’t, it has often been because the people were compromising with the culture and government. They were going along in order to get along.

The gospel puts us in opposition to the trends of culture. Jesus said it would happen. “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.” (John 15:18-20)

In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 the Apostle Paul seems to be glorying in persecution. He wrote that it gave him pleasure when he faced insults, persecutions, and difficulties. Why would he feel that way? Probably because he concluded that it validated his ministry. Jesus said that if we were doing our jobs as His disciples, spreading the good news and building the kingdom, we would encounter opposition. And, there it was.

Paul went so far as to say that when he faced opposition and persecution, and realized that he could not deal with it in his own strength, he discovered a strength beyond himself and that experience served to make him strong. He was strong in Christ. That’s what he meant when, years later as an old man sitting in a prison facing death, he could write in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

This is an important lesson for us Christians today in the USA. Things have changed in our nation for Christians, and they are going from bad to worse. We need to get ready for what’s probably coming next. There will be increasing opposition and persecution.

The transformation the Holy Spirit brings about in us as we grow in spiritual maturity serves to make us strong when we need to be. He teaches us how to draw our strength from Christ as Paul did. We need this and so, we will think more about this tomorrow.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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