Glory in the Lord

2 Corinthians 12:10
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.

Take pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, persecutions, and distresses? How could this be possible? It is hard for us to imagine that we could take pleasure in these things. But we must understand the mind frame and heart thinking of this man of God. Let's look closely at these words this morning.

The definition of pleasure is a state of gratification. Being in an attitude of glorying. Paul knew that, if he desired to be fleshly, he could have gloried in his labor for the Lord. He could have boasted of his prison time and his beatings, but he chose to glory in the Lord. Look at the words he used to describe his glorying.

Infirmities - the condition of being feeble
Reproaches - a cause or occasion of blame, discredit, or disgrace
Distresses - a very difficult situation in which you do not have enough money, food, etc...

How could you glory in this? It seems almost impossible to do so. Most people of today think that God would be angry with them because of the endurance of such things. But the key is found in the latter part of the verse. It's all "for Christ's sake." Knowing that when we are the weakest in our lives that He is the strongest. Without Him, we can do nothing. Without Him, have nothing. Without Him, we have no reason to glory. So if we have something to glory of it is in the truth of knowing that whether we live or die, we glory in the Lord!