DayBreaks for 05/23/13 – We Need Not Lower Our Eyes
NOTE: I am on a missions trip/internship to Africa and will be gone until 5/25. Please pray for God’s work to go forth mightily, for protection for myself and those with whom I will be working, and for my wife in my absence! Thank you…I cherish your prayers! You will be receiving DayBreaks as usual (from the archive) until I’ve returned.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10a – “9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses…”
How do you feel about your weaknesses? Do you delight in them? Do you boast in them? If you’re like me, I try my hardest to hide my weaknesses. I don’t want to admit them to anyone else. I don’t want anyone else to know about them. I am ashamed of my weaknesses. And perhaps, in a way, it is right to be ashamed of them. But on the other hand, it is wrong for me to be so focused on hiding my weaknesses and worrying about what others think of them.
Still, I find Paul’s attitude about his weaknesses to be stunningly refreshing. Paul doesn’t seem to care about what others think about his weaknesses. He didn’t seem to be worried that they’ll see him as a flawed human being. He delighted, he BRAGGED about his weaknesses! Why? Because his focus wasn’t on himself and his weaknesses – his focus was on the God who did something about his weaknesses and how God’s power to change lives and free from guilt finds its greatest witness in the works and tears of a fallen and flawed human being who has been lifted up from the gutter of failure and despair and made to rise up on eagle’s wings1
Paul’s focus wasn’t on his weaknesses, but on God’s grace and Christ’s power. When I become so focused on my weaknesses that I hang my head in shame and spend great effort to hide my weaknesses, I am denying the Spirit the chance to witness to others that God has done something great in my life through my weaknesses and my awareness of my weaknesses. Besides, if I pretend to be without weaknesses, everyone knows I am a liar and hypocrite. Why not be real and legitimate? Why not boast, yes even brag, about my weaknesses – but even more so about my God who loves a sinner like me!
“Whatever our failings may be, we need not lower our eyes in the presence of Jesus.” – Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel
Copyright 2002 by Galen C. Dalrymple. ><}}}”>
Copyright 2013 by Galen C. Dalrymple.
To subscribe to DayBreaks, use this link: https://daybreaksdevotions.wordpress.com and click on the Subscribe button at the right of the page. If you wish to unsubscribe, at the bottom of each email you receive about DayBreaks, you should find an “Unsubscribe” ink at the bottom of the email.
NOTE: Galen has started working with Medical Ambassadors International (MAI) (medicalambassadors.org) and is responsible for raising own support. DayBreaks is free – and will remain so – but if you wish to help support Galen in his ministry work with MAI, you can make a donation on his behalf. One-time donations may be made by going to this linke: http://www.medicalambassadors.org/donate.html and look down the left side of the page until you find the SUPPORT MISSIONARIES section. Then look for “Galen Dalrymple”. Click his name and you’ll be taken to PayPal where you can donate to his support. If you wish to make a recurring donation, contact suzette@med-amb.org or call her at 209-543-7500 ext. 219. You can also write a check to Medical Ambassadors International (a 501.c.3 non-profit – meaning your donations are deductible) and put S090 in the Memo field. Mail the check to Medical Ambassadors International, P.O. Box 1302, Salida, CA 95368.
Medical Ambassadors International is a 501.c.3 organization that has been serving the needy, sharing the gospel and helping them become self-sufficient for 32 years. Check them out! They are also members of ECFA (the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability).
Your support is greatly appreciated!!!! Thank you!
DayBreaks Devotions 