-September 22, 2021-
Good morning, happy Wednesday,
“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’”
(2 Corinthians 12:9).
Paul in his many writings in the NT, shared his personal experiences with those he spoke to and wrote to. Today’s verse is part of one of those personal experiences in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. He was very humble and did not brag of his knowledge, preaching, or teaching. He didn’t keep count of all the souls he won to Christ. He gave his personal testimony on numerous occasions of how he got saved. Our personal testimony has a powerful affect on others.
Here in our passage Paul describesexperience of being caught up into the third heaven. He heard inexpressible words which were not lawful to utter. He saw the Lord, heaven, and many wonderful things. God sent him back to earth, but didn’t allow him to share the details. Because of this, God gave me a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble. Paul described it as a “messenger of Satan.” Whenever Satan does anything to any of God’s people he must have God’s permission. That was also true in the case of Job.
Paul prayed three times that this thorn be removed, but God didn’t remove it, rather He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” God always answers our prayers, with either a yes, a no, or wait; is is so hard when the answer is no. God gave Paul something far greater than taking away his pain, He gave him the sufficient grace to handle it. Many Bible scholars believe that his thorn was an eye problem. He gave clues about when he pointed out what large letters he wrote with and how the Corinthian Christians were willing to pluck out their eyes and give them to him.
God’s grace is needed in our lives day by day, sending fresh grace for each new day. Grace is the strength we need when our strength is exhausted. The hymn writer Annie Johnson Flint wrote, “When we have exhausted our store of endurance, when our strength has failed ere the day is half done, when we reach the end of our hoarded resources, our Father’s full giving is only begun.”
God’s strength is made perfect through our weakness. He shows power to us and through us every hour. And because He comes through for us at just the right time, in just the right way, all the glory goes to Him. I have experienced God’s grace innumerable times in my life. He has always given me His sufficient grace to handle anything that comes my way. He gives me the second wind to go the second mile. He will do the same for you.
Have a blessed day relying on the Lord’s grace to see you through. Stay safe and healthy.
In His grace,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 