Corona Devo 1301

It's not a very becoming thing to discuss, but I have varicose veins.  Part of it might be hereditary--I remember both of my Grandma's having purple threads down their legs and into their ankles and feet.

But (for me), I am convinced that beyond genetic inheritance, there is a spiritual DNA that these knotty veins lining my leg represent.  Let's face it--they are unsightly and ugly...and (for me) necessary.

I've had doctors recommend treatment for cosmetic reasons.  I've had friends gush to me about the glory of having gotten their bulbous veins "taken care of".  

But (unless they become a threat to my health), I am not interested.  

We all have something that needles us.  Something that makes us stick out.  Something that jabs us and reminds us that we are not God's gift to the world.  And in truth, we desperately need the gift that God gave to the world: His Son. 

Jesus is our pure and sinless gift.  He is the Holy One...not us.  And if we need a reminder to stay humble, it just may be the thorn sticking in our side today...or the vein sticking out of our leg.  

We must move beyond merely comprehending that God is holy and in charge, and we must also experience that truth.  Only then can we actually enter into giving Him full glory.  We cannot fully worship and serve Him if we are busy worshiping and serving ourselves.

When we give God the glory and honor, He is strong.  But there are times and seasons when we must become weak in order to realize this.  

The apostle Paul knew this was true.  Or--to be accurate, Paul accepted that our weakness (in us) brings our strength (in God).

It's a tough pill to swallow, especially if we like to run our own show, call our own shots or have non-varicose legs.  

But Paul knew...and teaches us--that it was necessary.

That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. (6) If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, (7) even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.  

(8) Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. (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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

(10) That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  ~II Corinthians 12:1-10

My goodness--my sin reminds me more often than I care to admit about my intense need for a Savior.  

But, beyond blatant sin lies subtle sin.  Sometimes we get comfortable...lax...prideful--about ourselves.

We can lapse into forgetting the main thing about God--we need Him.

When we get full of ourselves and pride and self-will and self-determination...we forget all about Him.

God's light cannot shine through us if we have stepped in front of His spotlight.  And whether we can understand or appreciate it or not, He will touch our hip socket in order for us to defer to Him (Genesis 32:25).  He will give us a thorn in our side so that we might glorify Him instead of ourselves.  

We might have a varicose veins today.  We may be struggling today.  We may have thorns among our roses for a purpose, and for His glory instead of ours.

For when we are weak, He then, can be strong.   

I've got varicose veins--there's no doubt about it.  They are ugly, they can be painful...and I'm not going to do a thing about them.    

That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  ~II Corinthians 12:10

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com