Today's Scripture
2 Corinthians 12:6-10 God is Good
6 But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, 7 even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
RJ's Devotion
What the passage says
V.6-7a Paul had many things to boast when it came to how Christ was alive in his life. However, he says, “But I refrain from it” (v.6 NRSV).
V. 7b-8 Paul had a weakness, known as a physical illness, which helped him to acknowledge how limited he was as a human. He asked for God to take it away, but regardless of the mighty miracles he was able to perform, this diseases did not leave him.
V. 9-10 However, in weakness, God answers Paul’s prayer. God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power[c] is made perfect in weakness” (v. 9 NRSV). Grace is what Paul held onto?
What does the passage mean to me/us?
‘Is grace sufficient for us?’
I always ask this question to myself. If I didn’t have all I have, would I still be faithful to God?
I am where I am because of a family, who raised me in faith. I am where I am because of God’s guidance in my life, who prepared me for God’s mission.
I am where I am because of the family of Christ I am surrounded by, both with my family and with the church.
Then comes the question, if everything is gone, like Job, would I still say that God’s grace is enough?
The reason why we hesitate to say that ‘the saving grace of Christ is enough’ is because we focus too much on what do not have.
If we had this more, we would have been better off this way… and that.
However, God reveals, through Paul, an essential truth of life.
The beauty of the relationship we have, in Christ, is not in what we get more, but in how what we already have, even our weakness, becomes our strength.
God says, “My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.” (v. 9 The Message).
Not only that the grace is enough, the grace flows through our weaknesses. Our weakness becomes the reason and motivation to hold onto our Lord.
When we have too much power, we rely on ourselves, instead of God.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for your grace that saved us. Your grace is enough. Thank you for the extra grace you provide in our weaknesses. Continue to work through us, in this world.
In Christ Name, we pray, AMEN
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