2 Corinthians 12:8-9; Rather Glory in My Infirmities
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
AW Pink observed in his studies of the truthfulness of Scriptures when he said, “One of the chief differences between the Holy Spirit’s description of Biblical characters and the delineations in human biographies is, that the former has faithfully presented their failures and falls, showing us that they were indeed men of like passions with us”; whereas the latter (with very rare exceptions) record little else than the fair and favourable side of their subjects, leaving the impression they were more angelic than human.”
He compares, “Biographies need to be read sparingly, especially modern ones, and then with due caution (remembering that there is much “between the lines” not related), lest a false estimate of the life of a Christian be formed, and the honest reader be driven to despair. But God painted the features of Biblical characters in the colours of reality and truth, and thus we find that “as in water face to face, so the heart of man to man… The practical importance (and it is that which should ever be our first and chief quest as we read and ponder the Scriptures) of what has just been pointed out should preserve both the preacher and hearer from a one-sided experience.”