2 Corinthians 12:6-10 – “But even if I would desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will tell the truth: but now I refrain, lest anyone should think more of me than what he sees me to be and what he hears from me.⁷ And lest I should be exalted through the abundance of the revelations, there was delivered to me a thorn in my flesh, the angel of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted.⁸ Three times I besought my LORD concerning this thing, that it might depart from me.⁹ And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I would rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.¹⁰ Therefore, I am content with infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, and imprisonments for Christ’s sake: for when I am physically weak, then I am mentally strong.”

Today is the two-year anniversary of my Bonnie’s homegoing to heaven.  I miss her deeply, and the thought of God’s Sufficient Grace is powerfully relevant to me today!  Without His incredible Grace, I would not have survived, but through Him, by Him, with Him, and for Him, I can.  With God’s help of Grace, wonderful family, and dear friends, I am learning to live without her daily presence, but she will always live in my heart!  Thank You, LORD, for Your Incredibly Sufficient Grace!

Saul of Tarsus was a terror to the Church prior to his Damascus Road encounter with Jesus.  He became as dedicated to spreading the gospel as he was to stamping it out before his conversion.  He persecuted believers without fear, thinking he was doing the work of God.  He became even more zealous for God than he had been as a tool of the devil.

He had an experience that he would relate to from time to time as he presented the gospel of Christ.  I was on the road, and I saw the light!  Paul discovered the All-Sufficient Grace of God. 

THIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR SALVATION…

As we consider the sufficiency of God’s Grace through the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, we must remind ourselves of the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden.  God gave the Law, but the Law could not save; it simply reminded man that he was sinful.  A Sacrifice of Pure, Innocent Blood had to be offered to satisfy the demands of divine justice.  Man, without Jesus, was hellbound and eternally lost.  John 3:16 brings us the good news of salvation.

The incredible Love of God brought us the Grace of God, enabling us to be born-again and, through that new birth, become children of the Living God.  We deserved hell, but Grace rescued us.  Because of this incredible Love, we can sing Amazing Grace; how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost, but now I’m found, blind, but now I see.  If one truly sees what transpired at the Cross, the question, “How can you refuse Him now?  How can you turn away from His love?”

This Grace is sufficient for Salvation.  It is the only provision whereby man (human beings) can live eternally.  Jesus is the only road to heaven.  It is by Grace through Faith that we are saved.  In all of Paul’s sufferings, the theme of his life was “His Grace is Sufficient.” 

THIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT IN TRIBULATION…

I cannot imagine any sane person desiring to be persecuted, but Jesus and the writers of the Bible told us that if we live godly in Christ, we will encounter persecution.  It is not just the super saints that endure hardships; it is every child of God.  The devil hates you and me because we deserted his kingdom and turned to God, his archenemy.

Paul suffered persecution because of His faith in and commitment to Jesus.  The world demands compromise, tolerance, and acceptance of everything.  There is no compromise of the truth that we can be saved only through the Blood and Grace of God.   Only through Jesus.  We cannot dabble in the world’s offerings and have one foot in Christianity and one foot in the world.  If you seek to live a life separate from sin, the world will hate you and often attack you.

Today’s society demands that we accept a new definition of morality.  There is the demand that we compromise our biblical principles and precepts and accept their new ambiguous definition.  Too many are trying to be like the world, thinking it will enable them to win it. Instead, the world is not looking for itself; the heart is crying for something real.  They want to see the demonstration of the Grace of God that is sufficient and life-changing. 

The only time an army strikes its colors is when it is retreating or defeated; we are neither!  No matter what the temptation, God has provided a doorway of escape. (1 Corinthians 10:13).  We will have difficulties.  Sickness may come, grief may strike, poverty may rule, and spiritual darkness may try to encompass us, but His Grace is Sufficient!  Paul never lost sight of that reality, and neither should we.

THIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT TO CARRY US HOME…

Paul spoke of the mystery of change and eternal life in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.  Our Lord has promised to return for us, and He is coming for the faithful who are watching for Him.  Hebrews 9:8 tells us that He will appear to those looking for Him.  If we are looking for Him, that implies we are living for Him.  1 John 3:3 tells us that if we have the Hope of His return in our hearts and minds, we will purify ourselves, even as Jesus is pure. 

This is a race, a marathon, not a sprint!  We have begun well and must finish the course to receive the prize of eternal life.  Jesus is coming soon!  In the meantime, it is vital that we remain confident that His Grace is Sufficient!  No matter what we face, His Grace is Sufficient.  Hebrews 13:8 empowers us with the truth and hope that Jesus is the same eternally.  He does not change and will not fail.  His Grace is Sufficient!

God bless you as you live in the sufficiency of that Grace!   Have a wonderful day and a great life!