For God, Family and Republic

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
—2 Corinthians 12:9

Among those who speak of the marvels of God's power, scant attention is ever given to the necessity of brokenness in the Christian walk. We should shun those teachers who marvel at the power of God and of the blessings of God while they ignore the necessity of brokenness. As Matthew 6:33 declares, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." It is brokenness that men marvel at their own insignificance. It is in brokenness that men fully realize their unequivocal dependence upon the free and unmerited grace of God. "When I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10). It is brokenness that men find a real conviction of their sin, and their necessity for a redeemer.

Oftentimes a poor broken-hearted one bends his knee, but can only utter his wailing in the language of sighs and tears.
—Oswald Chambers

Weakness, humility and brokenness—this is the lot of the true believer. Those who seek worldly riches, the accolades of men, and have religion and self-righteousness are too apt to shun the Cross.

"Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered."
—Hebrews 5:8

"For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering."
—Hebrews 2:10

But the suffering of the Cross is requisite for true discipleship, and every believer has a Cross alloted for him. He just has to take up his Cross and fight the good fight, and endure the race of faith. We have to share in the suffering of the Cross. As 2 Timothy 2:3 declares, "You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." And as C.H. Spurgeon says, "God gets his best soldiers in the highlands of affliction."

For those of faith, our solace is the blessed assurance of the resurrection to come, through faith in Christ.