Where Christ abides God’s grace abounds
“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18 NIV
My thoughts and comments today are about, “abounding grace.”
Life exposes your inadequacies. At times, those are common to all. No one is adequate in every circumstance; everyone experiences some measure of inability on occasion. Attempting to always be in control is exhausting. There are two possible responses when you feel unprepared or inadequate. You can fake it or you can face it. When you fake it, you aren’t fooling yourself. And a false bravado rarely fools others. The real issue is this. What do you do when you face not having enough, or not being enough?
Paul described his distress as being, “under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.” 2 Corinthians 1:8 NIV. Yours or my challenges or complaints pale in comparison. If a Godly man of Paul’s exemplary devotion could face devastating emotions, you and I will not be exempt. For those struggling, Paul wrote strengthening words, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV. There is no lack that cannot be found in the sufficiency of God. Read Paul’s words again. Consider the superlatives Paul chose to describe God’s provision, “all grace, all sufficiency, all things, an abundance for every good work.” God’s Grace abounds. Paul did not exaggerate.
Paul struggled with what he described as, “a thorn in the flesh,” three times asking God for release and relief. At the least, this was distracting and, at the worst, debilitating in some measure. In his distress, he found the abounding grace of God. “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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 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.” Read 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NIV. Imagined strength limits God more than your confessed weakness.
When you evaluate yourself, include this factor, “Christ in you, the hope of Glory.” Colossians 1:27 NIV. Where Christ abides, God’s grace abounds. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant.” 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NKJV. Abandon the futility of self-sufficiency; you will discover abounding grace. Rest your confidence in Christ, not in yourself. From God, abounding grace is an immeasurable constant, neither increasing nor diminishing. “For of His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.” John 1:16 NASB. Peter encouraged Christ-followers in this way, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18 NIV. Experiencing a growing fullness of grace awaits your willing response.
Today, I pray for you to rest yourself in the sufficiency of Christ for needed strength.
Christian Communications 2016