for the weak.

Are you weak? I hope so. Please listen close, my friend. If you are weak, take heart, because God has chosen you.

Are you weak? I hope so. Please listen close, my friend. If you are weak, take heart, because God has chosen you.

Read the following passage and notice the ones chosen by God:

foolish,
weak,
base,
despised.

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Cor. 1:27-31)

Do you see that? With intention and great purpose, God has chosen you. Are you foolish? God has made Christ your wisdom. Are you weak? Have you given into temptation yet again? God has made Christ your righteousness. Are you alone, unknown, a nobody, a coward? God has set you apart in Christ, your sanctification. Are you hated and mocked, treated with utter contempt; despicable and despised? God has made Christ your redemption.

All of this is a deliberate exchange for the glory and purpose of God.

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Cor. 5:21

Oh, what riches we have in Christ, our wisdom! Christ, our righteousness! Christ, our sanctification! Christ, our redemption!

"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Cor. 12:8-10)

His grace is sufficient.

His strength is made perfect in weakness.

This is BY DESIGN.

This is by God's wisdom, to confound the wise men of this world (and to confound our very flesh):

"Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;" (1 Cor. 1:25-27)

I have not arrived yet to the place where I can take pleasure in my infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, or distresses. I still cry out to the Lord over my foolishness and weakness and baseness; the despicableness of my flesh that is engaged in a determined and lustful battle with the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-36).

It is the battle of a long, dark night, like when Jacob wrestled the angel of God.

Yet God is longsuffering, waiting patiently for me to surrender.

Christ is my wisdom.
Christ is my righteousness.
Christ is my sanctification.
Christ is my redemption.

Perhaps surrender begins with:

thank you.