2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
One thing believers love saying is that we are no longer under the law, but we are under the dispensation of grace, and that is true. Some have equated the grace of God to be a license to sin because, God will forgive us anyway once we confess our sins. The question then is, do we really have an understanding of what God’s grace really is?
This is what the book of Titus tells us;
Titus 2:11 NIV
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
Not only does it teach us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, it also empowers us to do so.
Paul had what he calls a thorn in the flesh. Three times he pleaded with the Lord to take it away, but the Lord did not. Instead, God says his grace is sufficient, and his power is made great in our weakness.
God’s grace is power, power to overcome the power of sin in our life. If we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, then that means that the power of grace is greater than the power of sin over our life. Grace is power.
This power is not just at the point of salvation but throughout our walk of salvation as well. This is the power to overcome the thorn in the flesh that the enemy may place along our path. The so-called thorn in the flesh also humbles us, like it did Paul, to recognize that we cannot accomplish God’s agenda in our strength. It is in that place of humility that the power of his grace is activated in our lives.
James 4:10 NKJV
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Humility activates the power of God’s grace in our life to overcome the plans and setbacks of the enemy. Sometimes as believers we do not recognize that grace is power and when we try to accomplish things in our strength, and we meet many obstacles along the way, we give up. Instead, we should look to God and humble ourselves, allowing the power of his grace to be activated in our life because his strength is made perfect in our weakness. God’s grace empowers us to do his will.
Reflective Thoughts.
When you think of God’s grace, what are some keywords that come to mind?
What is your thorn in the flesh?
His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up.
