Title: The Paradoxical Mystery of Strength and Weakness
The paradoxical mystery of strength and weakness
Text/ 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
1. Introduction
The apostle Paul wanted to be a strong evangelist. So, the apostle Paul prayed three times to God to remove his evil disease that was an obstacle to revealing the glory of God, not his glory. But strangely, God rejected his prayer, which he thought was deservedly heard, and said, <My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness!>.
The apostle Paul here realized the dialectical paradox and mystery between strength and weakness, and rather rejoiced. And when I am weak, then can I really be strong. Because when I am weak, the power of Christ can remain in me (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
2. What is weakness?, What is strength?
What is weakness? It can be described as <things that are inferior, things that do not meet expectations, things that do not meet standards>. In reality, weakness means inefficiency compared to efficiency, 9 or less compared to 10, filth, failure, lack, living in the back room, ugliness, stupidity, infirmity, pawn, low life, sloppy, famine, last, stupid, crime, lethality, Meaningfulness, darkness, foolishness, slavery, evil, the devil and Satan, etc., something negative, insignificant, and ignored.
What is strength? It can be described as "better than expected, above expectations, above standard" It is the opposite image of weakness. Brightness, success, excellence, good health, greatness, generosity, more than 11 compared to 10, wisdom, high society, general, cleanliness, beauty, free man, etc., something positive, desirable, and respected.
Therefore, by nature, humans prefer strength over weakness.
3. The Dialectical Relationship of Weakness and Strength
Dislike of the weak and fond of the strong is human nature. However, if we look at the history of one person, one family, one nation, we can see that weakness and strength in this world are closely and paradoxically correlated. It is a paradoxical correlation that weakness is strength and strength is weakness.
Weakness yearns for strength. All the weak things in this world achieve strength by writhing toward strength. And strength aspires to be stronger. All the strong things in this world come down to weakness due to the internal contradiction of the strength itself trying to get stronger. It is 花無十日紅 權不十年 (no flowers bloom for ten days, no authority to last ten years). Therefore, every individual, family, and society in this world is bound by a paradoxical correlation in which strength comes from weakness and weakness comes from strength.
4. A mystery that transcends the paradox of weakness and strength
My thoughts are different from your thoughts, and my ways are different from yours, as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts. He rejected his prayer for guidance (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Where is the path of that eternal strength, that mysterious strength? <My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness 2 Corinthians 12:9> It is clearly shown in the words of God. The path to eternal strength, not strength that collapses from strength to weakness, is when I deeply and deeply admit that I am an existentially and truly weak being, believe in Almighty God and hold on to God alone ability. That strength is eternal strength.
The center of the typhoon is still. It is empty. extremely weak. However, the size of the typhoon is determined by the length of the typhoon's center diameter. When my heart is strong, I am weak. When my core is weak, I am strong. Heavenly Father, have mercy on this foolish servant and open wide the door to the <empty fullness> that leads to eternal strength. Amen.