2 Corinthians 12: 8 – 9
The Word: 2 Corinthians 12: 8 – 9 (KJV)
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 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.
Dig Deeper:
2 Corinthians 12: 10 (KJV)
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Think about it
HOW I SEE
Still setting the preliminary foundation in our year of Grace. We have said it’s important to see things thesame way God see things because that will greatly affect our reactions. A simple way of defining Divine Grace is: Leveraging on God’s help. So the more of God’s aid an individual receive, the more grace they enjoy. Also the weaker an individual is, the more help they need. God’s grace can sometimes be like special scholarship for smart students from poor homes. What qualifies them besides being smart is that they have very little financial strength. So if you are a very strong and smart and righteous and disciplined individual, then you perhaps don’t need much of God’s help. But if you are not very wise, you have weaknesses and frailties, you have opposition stronger than you, you are not as disciplined as you ought to, and you desire his help, then you are the right candidate to receive God’s grace.
There is strength in weakness, there is grace in negative situations, there are opportunities in challenges because tough situations brings us to the end of ourselves and allows the manifestation of God’s grace in our lives. In our text today, Paul had a long standing problem. He had prayed about it 3 times but God was not going to answer the prayers the way he wanted. Eventually God answered and told him: ‘My Grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in your weakness’ God did not want him to avoid the challenge, rather God wanted him to face the challenge with his Grace and overcome it. That changed Paul’s perspective on how he saw difficulties and challenges. He now saw problems and inconveniences as a step to promotion. He stopped avoiding challenges, instead he viewed challenges from the perspective of how can it be solved. If you will look at the issues from God’s lenses, you will discover there is no mountain at all after all. Only a little mole hill that you can jump over.
WELCOME TO 2017 – THE YEAR OF GRACE…..
Prayer focus: Thank you Jesus for 2017…..
On Grace: God’s lavish Grace – Terry Virgo
Masterlife Workbook: The Church is embarking on weeks of discipleship workbook study starting with the Masterlife: Disciple’s cross.
