together with
Happy Friday, {{first_name | everyone}}!
We pray that this week you’ve grown in your knowledge of Scripture, that you’ve written at least part of 2 Corinthians 12:9 on your heart, and that it’s led you into a more intimate relationship with God.
Let’s end the week strong and send you into the weekend!
In today’s email…
🤓 A recap of what we’ve covered this week..
💪 One challenge to carry this verse into the weekend
🎙 Recommended resources in case you missed them…
MEMORIZE 🧠
___ __ ____ to __, “__ _____ __ __________ for ___, ___ __ _____ is ____ _______ in ________.”
_________ I ____ _____ ___ ___ ____ ______ of __ __________, __ that ___ _____ __ ______ may ____ ____ __.
2 Corinthians 12:9
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CONTEXT 📕
We opened with Monday where we saw how in 2 Corinthians 10–12, Paul confronts the Corinthians’ attraction to self-promoting false teachers whom he ironically calls “super-apostles.”
These men impressed people by worldly standards, but Paul exposes them as false apostles who exploited the church and distorted the truth.
Being tricked by charismatic false teachers, the church in Corinth asked Paul: “Where is your letter of recommendation?” (2 Corinthians 3:1-3)
Paul had a great resume by worldly standards that would surpass even the “super apostles,” but instead of boasting about himself, Paul took a very different approach: he boasted of his weakness.
Tuesday took us to Paul’s personal testimony about a prayer that was left unanswered. Paul had a “thorn in the flesh” which he pleaded with God to remove.
God answered the prayer (our memory verse is part of that answer), and it wasn’t in the way Paul wanted.
On Wednesday, we got a look at the city of Corinth and saw an ancient inscription that gave us a tangible picture of what mattered to the people living in ancient Corinth: status and honor.
Since the surrounding culture of Corinth (where these people likely grew up) was obsessed with status, the church of the Corinthians was too — which made Paul’s message of weakness both important and countercultural.
Yesterday we took this verse to the cross. There we found that Jesus talked about God’s promises being “perfected” with his very last breath.
This reminded us to consider how our weakness is a place for him to shine, and how to access the Holy Spirit’s power in our own lives.
Even though it was not the answer Paul hoped for (which was to remove the thorn completely), Paul got something else instead.
God spoke to him in an unexpected way.
In my own life, I’ve found there is nothing sweeter than hearing him speak where I least expected it.
Often it’s not at church where I have an aha-moment in my faith. But it’s when I’m doing the dishes or working in the garden.
God shows up how he wants to, but he always shows up.
And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
APPLY AND RESPOND 🏃♂
💪 Challenge
When God promises to strengthen the weak places, we often miss the point:
He does not make US strong. HE is strong in us.
Instead of worrying, stressing out, and focusing on the problem, shift your focus and turn to God in prayer. Try saying:
“God this makes no sense but your will be done…”
“Jesus already perfected God’s good plans.”
“When I am weak, you are strong.”
🙏 Pray
Father, thank you for the gift of your Word. Help me to understand that you see weakness as power and humility as strength. Help me to keep an open heart and open ears to see you move in my life in whatever way you are moving. In Jesus’ name, amen.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES 📚
In case you missed them, here are a few resources to help you dig deeper into our memory verse and its themes:
📚 Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller (link)
📚 Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn’t Make Sense by Paul David Tripp (link)
📚 Suffering Is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot (link)
📹 2 Corinthians Overview by The Bible Project (link)
📱 Our iPhone app for Scripture memorization (link)
☕ Try our coffee blend & join us in lifting children out of poverty in Jesus' name (link)
🎵 Your Grace Is Enough by Chris Tomlin (Spotify | Apple Music)
Our goal is to keep the Malachi Daily newsletter completely free in 2026.
Part of what will make that possible is having subscribers who support our work. For the cost of a few coffees per month, you can help us strengthen over 400 other believers in their faith this year!
p.s. If you’d like to give a custom amount to support our work, you can do that here.
ANSWER KEY ✅
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
Have a blessed weekend!
May your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the messages God is sending to you in unexpected ways and the places where you least expect to find him.
Best,
The Malachi Daily team 🙏
Today’s Contributors
Eljoh is a South African writer, editor, and artist with a Master’s in Practical Theology. She creates resources to help believers of all ages abide in Christ and grow in faith. Explore more free resources and creative tools at Vine Creative Studio.
Kieran is a husband and father living in NJ. In addition to Malachi Daily, he writes a personal newsletter about the intersection of faith, fatherhood and entrepreneurship.
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What are the differences between Within and Malachi Daily?
Malachi Daily 📧 | Within 📱 | |
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Type of tool | Email newsletter | iOS mobile app |
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Who chooses the verse | We choose | We choose AND you can memorize any verse you want, anytime |
Bible translation(s) | ESV | ESV, NIV, NLT, KJV, and NASB |
Reviewing previously memorized verses | You do this on your own | Use the built-in memory bank |
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