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GLORYING IN ONE’S WEAKNESS (II)
TUESDAY, MARCH 17
2 Corinthians 12:1-6
2 Corinthians 11:30
 
“… yet of myself I will
not glory …”
 
GLORYING IN ONE’S WEAKNESS (II)
 
The adversaries of Paul delighted in blowing their trumpet concerning their qualities and achievements. In order to show that such boasting was in vain and to put his adversaries in their places, Paul then proceeded to “boast as a fool” concerning an experience which no one had experienced in his time. Nevertheless, Paul was careful to describe the experience in the third person (cf. 2 Cor 12:2, “I knew a man in Christ”), so as not to attract undue attention unto himself.
 
The experience Paul had was unique for any man in his time for he was “caught up” into the third heaven. This “third heaven” is called “paradise” in 2 Corinthians 12:4 and refers to the dwelling place of God. (The first heaven refers to the atmospheric sky of the earth, while the second heaven refers to outer space.) There in the third heaven he heard of utterings of which he was not permitted to say to any man (2 Cor 12:4). Where and when did Paul have this unique experience? Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:2 that he had the experience some fourteen years earlier. Since 2 Corinthians was written around AD 55, the unique experience of Paul was likely to be in AD 41 while he was in Tarsus.
 
The experience was a wonderful privilege granted to Paul by the Lord. Could any one of the “super-apostles” boast of such an experience? No, not one! How then can they claim to be above the Apostle Paul. Nevertheless, Paul was anxious to remain in the background and give all glory to God. Knowing the disposition of man to glorify other men, Paul quickly cautioned against making him out to be greater than he was (2 Cor 12:6). Thus, Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:5 that he would rather glory in his infirmities. This must not be taken that Paul was proud of going through much suffering for Christ and hanging these events around his neck like personal accolades. Rather, Paul was rejoicing that God’s majesty and greatness were proved when He used such a weak vessel like Paul. It is God, and God alone, who must get all the glory.
 
THOUGHT: (Read 2 Corinthians 12:10.)
PRAYER: May I be willing to be a nobody as I serve Thee, Father.

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