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. 2 Corinthians 12:10.
 

Paul turned his stumbling-blocks into stepping-stones. John Bunyan in Bedford jail, Fanny Crosby in a prison of blindness “out of weakness were made strong.” Long is the list of saints through the ages who have turned minus to plus by the grace of God.
 

Paul gloried in infirmities. We glory in strength. Paul gloried in tribulation. Most of us grumble. The Christian does not resent his affliction. He does not merely resign himself to it. He rises above it and transmutes it into a blessing. He is “more than conqueror.”
 

This kind of book-keeping turns liabilities into assets. This world cannot understand it. “What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ,” says Paul. And then what seems loss he turns to gain!

We hear of people who “lose the savings of a lifetime.” But what you really save in a lifetime is what you lay up in heaven, and you cannot lose that. And out of earth’s darkest day you can coin heavenly wealth.

Turn your minus to plus!

 

 Vance Havner,  Day by Day: A Book of Bible Devotions (Baker Publishing Group, 1953), 148.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14.
 

Prayer is not enough. It will readily be seen here that God requires four things, not just one. And He will not settle for a fourth of what He requires. If we are going to use this verse let us use all of it.

Sometimes we make it sound as though a prayer meeting alone were sufficient to produce a revival. God has said more here than “pray.”

We are to humble ourselves—not pray for humility, but humble ourselves, “as a little child” (Mt. 18:4), “in the sight of the Lord” (Jas. 4:10), “under the mighty hand of God” (1 Pt. 5:6).

We are to seek God’s face, His favor, the smile of His approval. “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face, my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek” (Ps. 27:8). Is that what your heart says?

And we are to turn from our wicked ways.

That fourth note is rather subdued these days. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Prov. 28:13). Praying is not enough if God requires more. And in this sadly misused text He certainly does!
 

Vance Havner,  Day by Day: A Book of Bible Devotions (Baker Publishing Group, 1953), 83–84.

We have fellowship … 1 John 1:7.
 

Precious indeed is the fellowship of those whose citizenship is in heaven. We have fellowship with the Saviour: “God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:9). We have the fellowship of the Spirit (Phil. 2:1). There is the fellowship of His sufferings (Phil. 3:10). We enjoy the fellowship of the Saints (1 John 1:7; Acts 2:42). There is the fellowship of service: “the fellowship of ministering to the saints” 2 Cor. 8:4).
 

But there is also a fellowship of Satan: “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11). “If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth” (1 John 1:6). “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” (2 Cor. 6:14).
 

We cannot have a heavenly fellowship if we allow a hindering fellowship. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).

 

Vance Havner,  Day by Day: A Book of Bible Devotions (Baker Publishing Group, 1953), 85.

I would not have you ignorant … Rom 11:25; 1 Cor 10:1; 2 Cor 1:8; 1 Thess 4:13; 2 Peter 3:8.
 

The outstanding characteristic of this intellectual age, believe it or not, is ignorance. We do err, not knowing the Scriptures or the power of God (Mt. 22:29).
 

The world does not know its peril, like those of Noah’s day who ate and drank, married and gave in marriage and knew not (Mt. 24:39).

The church does not know its need. It is like Laodicea, that boasted it was rich and increased with goods and had need of nothing and knew not that it was wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked (Rev. 3:17).

The sinner does not know the Saviour. Jesus said to the woman at Jacob’s well, “If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink …” (Jn. 4:10).
 

And Christians do not know the Lord. “Have I been so long time with you, and yet thou hast not known me, Philip?” was our Lord’s pointed question to His dull disciple (Jn. 14:9). We know Him so poorly, we are so ignorant of the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.
 

Ignorance unbounded! And the cure is to know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent (Jn. 17:3).

 

 Vance Havner,  Day by Day: A Book of Bible Devotions (Baker Publishing Group, 1953), 97–98.