“I WILL BOAST!”

2 Corinthians 12:7-10                             (ESV)

“7 SO TO KEEP ME FROM BECOMING CONCEITED because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to KEEP ME FROM BECOMING CONCEITED.

8 Three times I pleaded with the LORD about this, that it should leave me.

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 of MY WEAKNESSES, so that the power of CHRIST may rest upon me.

10 For the sake of CHRIST, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

BOASTing is something that we all do to some degree.  Personally, I usually am found BOASTing about my grandkids, and sometimes about my children.  Bragging (or BOASTing) about my grandchildren is something that I find pleasing and fulfilling, for they are, well GRAND!  

The Apostle Paul was writing about allowing himself to become CONCEITED, thinking more of himself than he ought!  We can be guilty of this without our knowledge, being totally unaware of our PRIDE.  Remembering my younger days, I was CRUSHED by the actions of a person that I totally loved and respected.  The hurt of being “rejected” by someone who I thought the world of was almost devastating.  It took me years to SEE that GOD was using the actions of others to move me where HE could use me for HIS Glory (Genesis 50:20)!

Using MY WEAKNESSES to Glorify HIS NAME is something that I have a difficult time accepting.  BOASTing about my weaknesses is certainly not something that I would ever try to do.  But Paul readily admitted that “I WILL BOAST” all the more gladly of MY WEAKNESSES, so that the power of CHRIST may rest upon me.  That seems to be a drastic measure to contemplate, but having “the power of CHRIST” rest upon you is something that we can never match, nor fabricate!!!

Just as I love BOASTing about my grandchildren, I should be glad to have MY WEAKNESSES exposed to Glorify CHRIST.  YES, I am WEAK, but CHRIST is merciful and gracious and HE chose me to exhibit HIS love!  Therefore “I WILL BOAST” about JESUS living in me and HIS LOVE!  While I do absolutely love my grandchildren, “I WILL BOAST” that JESUS CHRIST loves me and has forgiven me!!!