Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 12:9

If you watch enough sports, you are undoubtedly familiar with postgame interviews and press conferences where members of the media ask athletes to reflect on their performances. A surprising number of current athletes often start their remarks by saying something like: “First off, I want to give all glory to God. He blessed me with these abilities, and I am thankful for the opportunity to use them.” Several football players this past season spent quite a bit of airtime talking about how God has enabled them to do such amazing things on the field. Comments like those are a good reminder for the rest of us to acknowledge God as the giver of all good things.

If you were one of those athletes, would you be so quick to give the glory to God? It is tempting for us to take credit for anything positive. It can be easy to puff out our chests, raise our heads, and smile as people pile on the compliments. People noticing our accomplishments is a big boost to our egos and tempts us to boast about ourselves.

The apostle Paul invites us to view boasting from a different perspective. We don’t usually see weakness as something to boast about. Truthfully, our weaknesses are the things we try to hide. But today’s Bible verse encourages us to view our weaknesses as opportunities to look away from ourselves and shine the light on God—the one who has given us everything.

While the Lord has blessed us with abilities, he has done even more for us than that. He sent Jesus into this world to live and die for us. And rather than boast about his own life of perfection and his eternal power, Jesus went to the cross to die for you and me and to pay for all our sins. Through faith in Jesus, you and I have eternal life. This same Jesus will use his power to work through our weaknesses.

Prayer:

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