Wednesday: W19, Recovery

Training:


400 x pushups
60 min weighted vest run (20lb vest)

Daily Reading:
2 Corinthians 9-12

1.) Facts:

• Paul encourages the church in Corinth to practice generosity towards each other and that we are not only serving others but serving the kingdom of God. There will be false apostles masquerading as angels of light. Paul's warns the church to be on their guard against the attacks of these, as they are from Satan. Paul boasts in his own sufferings for in his weakness, Christ is made strong. Gods grace is sufficient for us.

2.) Lessons:

• 9:6 - Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
• 11: 9 - And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.
• 11:21 -31 - Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,  I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.
• 12:7-9 - Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of 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 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.

3.) Applications:

• We must learn to be self-sufficient as Paul was. Do not be a burden to others but work hard with your own hands. If we are to boast, boast in our weaknesses, for it is through these weaknesses that God's power is shown . There is nothing that we struggle with that is uncommon to man. Sin and temptation attack everyone, however, it is how we deal with these weaknesses that define us and the church. We must realize, as Paul did, our weakness and inability to resist our fallen sin nature. God's grace and power are made perfect through our weakness. 

4.) Daily Meditation:

• 12:9 - “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”