"Your Grace is Enough"

THE WORD: 

 2 Corinthians 12:9 - 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.

DEVOTION:  

Paul wrote this Bible verse after describing that he had a thorn in his side… a thorn that he had asked God three times to remove, but instead God's response was, "My grace is sufficient for you."

What is grace? Last Sunday at church, my pastor referred to C.S. Lewis who said that Christianity differs from the rest of world religions because it is a story of grace…Christianity is about how God decided to give His free gift of eternal life - not because we deserve it - but out of His love. This is grace.

Imagine a criminal waiting for his punishment on death row. He must have committed terrible crimes to be sent to death row. Right as his name is called for his final walk down the famous "Green Mile," someone - a total innocent stranger - stops everything and says, "I will take his place. Let him go free."

That is what Jesus did for us - on Easter Sunday we celebrated His resurrection and His triumph over death - because He took our punishment in His place, so that when we die, we too can have life afterward with Him.

So when troubles come and we pray and beseech God to take our pain away, remember that God's grace is always sufficient for us…His grace is stronger than anything we are facing. And with  that, we can boast about our troubles…because God's strength shines best in our weaknesses, and that is a great thing to boast about.

PRAYER:  

Dear God, you are always strong even when I am weak. Thank you for your gift of grace which I do not deserve. I am sorry for when I doubt you and forget to bless Your name in times of suffering. I pray that you be with me through my times of trial and continually remind me that I don't need anything more than Your grace.

APPLICATION: 

 Have you ever been like Paul, where you have prayed to God many times to take away a certain problem from you? Perhaps you prayed that God take away your financial troubles, or your physical pain. What can you boast about God based on these experiences?

WORSHIP:  

"Your grace is enough" - Chris Tomlin

"Great is Your love and justice, God

You use the weak to lead the strong

You lead us in the song of Your salvation

And all Your people sing along

So remember Your people

Remember Your children

Remember Your promise, oh God

Your grace is enough

Your grace is enough

Your grace is enough for me"