Page 6 - Livin Light Issue 81

Friday June 2 - The sufficiency of grace
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
This verse is my ‘life verse’, given to me at my induction as a pastor. How is it that God’s power, which is already perfect, can be ‘made perfect’? It attains perfection when exercised in and through the vehicle for which it was intended. One of the prime ways the world sees the love of God is when it is expressed through the heart, mind and actions of a human being. God’s power is the same.
But why in weakness? In weakness, because God’s power does not require our strength; the perfect will be corrupted when mixed with the imperfect human counterpart. The Apostle Paul understood this: ‘That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong’ (2 Corinthians 12:10).
This is a wonderful truth. Today, God does not look for your ability. Rather, he looks for faith, availability and the courage to obey; to dare to get out of the boat and walk on water, without a master’s degree in buoyancy! Biblical faith is rooted in what God has said, has done and promises to do. It is faith in God, and not faith in oneself.
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). Your part is full commitment; God’s promise is his power! Hallelujah!
Father, I confess my weakness – please strengthen my heart with your power. Amen.
Saturday June 3 - The supremacy of grace
... I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hard-ships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10
Dear friends, today we come to the end of a week of grace. The grace of things to come, of times past; grace found in humility, in suffering, in patience; the sufficiency and now the supremacy of grace.
You may find yourself struggling with abiding issues which loom large in your mind; without the wherewithal to break free; feeling alone and inadequate. Let me encourage you today; with God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37); nothing is too hard (Matthew 19:26); you can do all things through Christ’s strength (Philippians 4:13); you are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37). The Christian life is about Christ’s life in us (Galatians 2:20) and that is dependent on his grace. Sola Gratia, Grace Alone, is the ground on which we stand – God’s love, mercy and power freely available because of the blood of Jesus.
As a young Christian, I would sing the great revival hymn: ‘Grace! 'tis a charming sound, harmonious to the ear; heaven with the echo shall resound, and all the earth shall hear. Saved by grace alone! This is all my plea: Jesus died for all mankind, and Jesus died for me.’ For me, 48 years on, nothing has changed, and nor will it throughout eternity. May God’s grace have supremacy in your thinking and living to the glory of God.
O let thy grace inspire my soul with strength divine; may all my powers to thee aspire, and all my days be thine.’ Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
4
PRAYER FOR TODAY