Page 4 - Livin Light Issue 81

Monday May 29 - The grace of times past
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. 2 Corinthians 12:2
Take a moment to call to mind those special occasions when God spoke into your life, defining moments of significance. Perhaps it was a revelation of the nature of God, his unabating love, the wonder of forgiveness; or a ‘Macedonian call’ to join him in some new venture? Consider when and how it happened. I feel confident that it was all of God’s grace.
In our text, God parted the curtain, allowing Paul to see and momentarily experience ‘the third heaven’. It was something for Paul alone, such was God’s grace. We have no idea what was happening prior to this, but God knew what Paul needed. Paul’s response was not to launch out on a ‘third heaven’ speaking tour, in some way elevating himself as special and elite, but rather, like Mary (Luke 2:19), ‘he treasured these things in his heart’.
Perhaps today you are struggling? Life is hard, dreams seem dashed and you may feel forsaken. Remember those occasions when God has spoken to you, and in so doing you will ‘know a man’ – and that person is you! Cherish what was said, and be filled with wonder that the God of all creation has spoken individually to you. This is amazing grace!
Be encouraged; the grace you have received in times past gives strength for today and an expectation for tomorrow.
Heavenly Father, I give thanks for your grace at work in my life. May I reciprocate your grace by extending it to others today. Amen.
Tuesday May 30 - The grace of humility
...I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.
2 Corinthians 12:5
In prison, showing weakness can be seen as an invitation for trouble. Survival, in a ‘dog-eat-dog’ environment, is usually achieved through strength and bravado. In life, we’ll inevitably meet up with someone who can knock us off our pedestal. Living in fear, constantly looking over our shoulder, is not the answer.
If only we could live by John the Baptist’s instruction, “He (Jesus) must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30), life would be so much easier. At that time, John the Baptist had a greater public ministry than his younger cousin, Jesus. John was attracting large crowds with his firebrand preaching, gaining the attention of both religious and secular leaders alike.
Yet John saw, in Jesus, one greater than himself – as he said, “The straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie” (Luke 3:16). In those days, untying sandals was the responsibility of a servant. In comparison with Jesus, John saw himself as lower than a servant. That is why Jesus would say of John, “there is none greater” (Matthew 11:11).
Today, image, achievement and possessions can be misconstrued as virtues in themselves. This is a fallacy – being real and honest is the doorway to peace and true joy. Luke 14:10 teaches us to take the lowest place, so that when our host comes, he will say, “Friend, move up to a better place.” May it be so!
Father, I thank you that my weakness causes me to depend on your sufficiency. I am weak. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY