TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

DEVOTIONAL

by Sandra Chua

Do you know people who love to talk about their accomplishments: their ‘good’ characteristics, how cheap they have bought something, or how much they have earned in the stock market? 

Several verses in the Bible tell us that God hates pride. Jeremiah 50:31 states, “Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one.” James 4:6 states, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Proverbs 16:18 states, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Paul knew God hated the proud, and you can feel him cringing as He tried to present his case to his Corinthian brothers. He even called himself a fool for enumerating his credentials and all the visions he saw, even though all he said was the truth. Paul hesitated to boast even if he had the right to do so because he was aware that God Himself had given him a thorn in the flesh to keep him from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations he had been shown. Although he asked God in vain repeatedly but in vain to take away his thorn, he gladly submitted to God’s will and learned to boast instead of his weakness so that God may be lifted up. 

True enough, we have many examples in the Bible where God used people’s weaknesses and flaws to display His power. Moses, who admittedly was slow in speech, became a great prophet. David, the youngest among his brothers, was a shepherd boy when He was chosen over his more statuesque brothers. Gideon was from the weakest clan in Manasseh and the least in his father’s house. The patriarch Abraham was old, and Sarah, his wife, was not old only but barren too when they were promised descendants as numerous as the stars. 

I’ve written about this before. My most dreaded chore in college was essay writing. Each week I would sweat it out on the typewriter, trying to come up with a decent essay. No matter how I proofread my work, it never failed to come back with lots of red mark corrections. So it is with great honor that I, like Paul, boast in God’s power to be used in this devotional ministry despite my weakness. 

REFLECTION

How can I let God be glorified in spite of my weakness? How have I depended on God because of my inadequacies?  

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, Your foolishness is wiser than man’s, and Your weakness is stronger than man’s. You choose the weak things of this world to shame the strong and the foolish things to shame the wise so that no one can boast before You. Help us think of ourselves with sober judgment, only according to the faith You have given us. Let us boast only in You and what You’ve done for us, in Jesus’ name, amen.