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Devotional

"Answering the Call"
(09/24/05)

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

12:7
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
12:8
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Who does God use in his service? YOU! Everyday, common people with infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, weaknesses, & distress. It is quite amazing when God begins to deal with people to do a work for the Kingdom how that all of the reasons we can't perform that duty flashes before us. Most of those reasons are covered in these scriptures. The Apostle Paul who wrote one third of the New Testament says, "I deal with all of these", and he learned to take pleasure in them. WOW. He didn't at first; he said "I prayed three times and asked God to remove the thorn in the flesh, whatever that was." He got his answer from God and it was "NO- You need this weakness for two reasons. First, to keep you humble. Second, when you are weak, I am strong."

If God is strong then He gets all the glory; man can't boast of himself. It always comes back to, "To God Be The Glory". People who have had infirmities know how to deal with people who have infirmities; People that have been persecuted know how to deal with people that are going through persecution. If I have been there I don't just feel sorry for you, I can empathize with you. I know what you are going through. Some of the greatest workers for the Kingdom of God have never answered the call because they are dealing with things themselves.

Take it from the Apostle Paul. Take pleasure in the fact that you can turn your distress into a blessing by letting God work through you, as you work through it. While we are working through the stuff we can reach out to those
who are on the same road and offer them hope. Answer the call- a hurting Brother or Sister needs you. They need to see your scars, they need to see that you are human, they need to see that God is mindful of our struggles, and they need to see that he cares.

Keep Reading The Book,
Gerald