Thought for Thursday, December 6th

December 6, 2012

The Truth about Grace

“Merit is not enough unless supported by grace.”

-       Baltasar Gracian

   For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  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.  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.  I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

2 Corinthians 12:6-11

Grace is unmerited favor.  A merit is something we can earn or deserve: grace is not.  Grace is a gift of love that transcends our worthiness or our ability to do anything that could make us worthy of it.  Grace is a quintessential expression of the love of God.   And God has told us that this grace is sufficient or enough to meet any situation, circumstance or need we will face or experience: yet we often doubt this and question whether He has indeed extended His grace.

The story is told of a minister who had lost his young son; and in His grief He read the words above; ‘my grace is sufficient’ so he prayed asking God to let His grace be enough or sufficient.  And it was as if God responded to him the following: ‘Why ask for that which is?  I cannot make My grace more sufficient than I have already made it.  Believe it and you will find it sufficient.’ – (taken from an account by W. B. Knight)

God’s grace is there; it is free; it is abundant; and it is sufficient: if we fail to experience it as such, the problem is not with God’s grace – rather it is with our faith.

We need to come to the actualization that when God says it: that is all we need to know.  That truth should then become our reality.

So is God’s grace being experienced to the fullness of its sufficiency for you?

Today’s Prayer

Father, wonderful, marvelous grace: you have already given it; may I be willing to receive it.