OUR DAILY BREAD : STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS

[cimi]

February 27
Saturday


STRENGTH IN
WEAKNESS

READ:
Matthew 20:20-28
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Whoever desires to
become great among
you, let him be your
servant.
__Matthew 20:26
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No one wants to be weak, so we find ways to appear strong. Some of us use the force of our emotions to manipulate people. Others use the force of personality to control people, and some use intellect to intimidate. although these create an illusion of strength, they are signs of weakness.

When we are truly strong, we have the courage to admit our limitations and to acknowledge our dependence on God. As a result, true strength often looks a lot like weaknesses. When the apostle Paul prayed that an affliction would be taken from him, God answered, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul responded with these troubling words: "When I am weak, then I am strong" (v.10).

Toward the end of Jesus' earthly ministry, some of His disciples were striving for positions of prominence. Jesus used their argument as an opportunity to teach them that in His kingdom things are different: greatness comes when we willingly assume positions of weakness (Matt. 20:26).

This is a hard truth. I prefer the illusion of strength to the reality of weakness. But God wants us to realize that true strength comes when we stop trying to control people and start serving them instead. __Julie Ackerman Link
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`````````````````The life that we live for God's glory,``````````````
`````````````````````Let's live it in biblical light:``````````````````
`````````````God's strength is made perfect in weakness;```````````
`````````````He alone controls power and might. __Branon``````````
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God's greatest power can be displayed
in our biggest weakness.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Matthew 20:20-28***********

20 Then the mother of
Zebedee's sons came to Him
with her sons, kneeling
down and asking something
from Him.

21 And he said to her,
"What do you wish?"
She said to Him, "Grant
that these two sons of mine
may sit, one on Your right
hand and the other on the
left, in Your kingdom."

22 But Jesus answered and
said, "You do not know
what you ask. Are you able
to drink the cup that I am
about to drink, and be
baptized with the baptism
that I am baptized with?"

They said to Him, "We are
able."

23 So He said to them, "You
will indeed drink My cup,
and be baptized with the
baptism that I am baptized
with; but to sit on My right
hand and on My left is not
Mine to give, but it is for
those for whom it is
prepared by My Father."

24 And when the ten heard
it they were greatly
displeased with the two
brothers. 25 But Jesus called
them to Himself and said,
"You know that the rulers of
the Gentiles lord it over
them, and those who are
great exercise authority over
them. 26 Yet it shall not be so
among you; but whoever
desires to become great
among you, let him be your
servant. 27 And whoever
desires to be first among
you, let him be your slave--

28 Just as the Son of Man did
not come to be served, but
to serve, and to give his life
a ransom for many."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Mark 10:35 says that it was John and James who had asked for
places of honor (Matt. 20:20-21). On at least two other occasions,
the disciples discussed who was the greatest among them (Matt.
18:1; Luke 22:24). SIM KAY TEE