Pride Rock

"Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I now a man in Christ who fourteen years ago - whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows- such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man - whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows - was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me - to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

- 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Why the long passage? Because it speaks deep and strong words. This is one of Paul's many letters to the Corinthians that is a praise and yet a rebuke at the same time. To give a little background, Paul is trying to fight against other prophets who are saying that they are better than him just because they had experienced awesome things. Paul is in a pinch in that he could just as easily boast but knows that it would draw the attention in the wrong way. What do I mean? I mean that if he boasted, people would follow him instead of who he represents. Let me repeat that. People might follow Paul instead of who he actually represents.

I think we all look up to 'idols' cleverly euphamized to 'role models'. This can actually be very healthy in terms of becoming a certain character but I think it can be dangerous when that role model takes up a more solid image that what that role model is meant to represent. For me, a role model would be someone who would represent God. Yet, because that role model is a more solid and tangible person (redundant, i know), we may tend to look at that person more than God. Case in point, glory goes to God, not some person who represents God. Put in another way, we are not disciples of "pastor x" but disciples of Christ.

Notice how Paul talks about how he boasts of his weaknesses. To us, pride is such a precious thing. Yet, as a Christian, I'm supposed to be humble before God and not be prideful of my own actions knowing full well that I could not have done it without God's grace. But, it is still so hard, when someone denies your faith, calls it trash, or even refuses to hear your argument, to not feel hurt in some way. Paul says he is content with these persecutions. God says that I will persecuted. Here is where I must continue to persevere to change that hurt to praise and prayer.

Special Thanks to May