“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was give a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NIV)
I don’t know about you, but I hate my own weakness. I don’t like admitting that there are things I can’t do, battles I haven’t won, and tasks still unfinished. The achiever in me wants to claim victory. Delayed success, and even moreso defeat, is thoroughly discouraging to me. Can you relate?
I’m still thinking about sin and flesh holdouts. I’m examining my life for the places where my carnality bucks up and interferes with my ‘yes’. This morning, my weekly accountability group discussed it: we dove into the difference between protecting our pet transgressions and struggling against them. I was encouraged: we aren’t reserving our right to sin as long as we stay in the fight.
Apostle Paul reminds us that our weakness is a perfect receptacle for God’s glory. Human frailty is an ideal resting place for the Spirit of God. I’ve seen this firsthand. My sorry flesh becomes a custom-fit glove for His habitation. It’s surprising. Humbling. And so obviously God, because quite frankly, my friends and family know what Anna can produce. It’s highly conspicuous when the power of God shows up in my frame.
There appears to be some tension between resting in God’s power and staying in the fight. We refuse to cave to our sinful desires, yet we acknowledge our temptation for the sake of the Spirit’s inhabitation. Amidst every skirmish, we lean into His strength to overcome our weakness.
Today I am newly emboldened to come out fighting and stay in the ring in the brawl against my flesh. What about you? Does it help to think of Paul (not to mention the saints above) cheering us on?
“Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” (Philippians 2:12-13 NIV
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing or eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning it’s shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition form sinners, so that you will to grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV)
Jesus endured opposition from sinners. We endure opposition from our own sinful nature. Jesus pushed past the temptation of His own flesh, enduring the cross and triumphing for the sake of humanity. We look to Him and we are rallied anew to win the civil war within our own heart and flesh..
Fight sin with everything you’ve got and trust the process. The Spirit of God is at work in you, fulfilling His purposes. Cooperate with that effort and enjoy being a small but critical part of what God is accomplishing here on earth.
Lord, we need Your help in our battle against sin. Thank you for filling us before we are fully sanctified. Your Spirit is our greatest asset in our fight. Rest upon us today, supernaturally reinforce us for the fight of our life; the fight against our own carnal nature. Make us more like You because only You can. Amen.