1. What stood out to me from this chapter?
Paul spoke a lot about boasting in this chapter. Apparently some of the other people who had come to the city proclaiming Christ, claimed to be something like "super-apostles." They must have rattled off their so-called "credentials" in an effort to impress the church and sway people to their teaching. Paul wasn't about puffing himself up. Rather he was about lifting God's name up and proclaiming Christ. It was kind of fun to listen to him rattle off his own qualifications with interjections like, "I'm out of my mind for talking like this," or "I would never do this, but you forced me to." Many of the things he boasts about aren't even credentials so much as they are evidence of God's calling and authority in his life - things he would never endure if it was just about himself gaining popularity. Paul fully emphasizes this by sharing how God taught him to trust that God's grace was sufficient, and that God's power was actually displayed through our human weaknesses. So weakness is actually strength, when we trust in God's power to work through us and in us despite our weaknesses.
2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?
This concept of God's strength through our weakness is so similar to what Jesus teaches about those who are greatest in the kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 18, Jesus shows a child to the disciples and teaches them that we need to take a low position like a child to be considered great in the kingdom of heaven. In other places Jesus talks about being a servant. It's clear that God is flipping worldly standards and norms upside down in bringing about his kingdom.
3. What does this mean for my life?
I was especially impressed with the passage about Paul having a "thorn in his flesh." We don't really know what that was. It could have been a physical ailment, a struggle with sin, or an attitude issue. Regardless of what it was Paul prayed for God to take it away, but God didn't. He wanted to show Paul that despite his weakness(es), God could still use him. I have had several things in my life (i.e. physical ailments, sin struggles, obstacles to ministry, etc) that I have prayed for God to take them away, but he hasn't. I think like Paul, these are good reminders to me that I'm not perfect - to humble myself and trust that God will still use me and work in me. My weakness is a way to display God's power.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
What did Paul mean when he said that he knew someone who was caught up by God to the third heaven? I realize it was a vision of sorts, but what did he mean by the third heaven?
Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!
In Christ,
Dan
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