Devotional 7-3-15

ENOUGH GRACE

Lectionary Readings:  2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10; Psalm 48; 2 Corinthians 12:  2-10; Mark 6:1-13

And then He told me, “My grace is enough; it’s all you need.  My strength comes into its own in your weakness.”  Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen.  I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift.  It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size---abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks.  I just let Christ take over!  And so the weaker I get the stronger I become. (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10. The Message)

I think that I speak for the majority when I say that celebrating a weakness is not an easy thing to do.   Human nature leans closer to celebrating accomplishments, joys, achievements and wins.  The idea of appreciating a weakness is as radical as “the last will be first” or “you must lose your life to save it”.  And yet, that is exactly what Paul advises.  The theme of this chapter of the second letter to the Corinthians is “Surrender to God and God will provide all you need, even enough strength to overcome any weakness”.

Surrendering control of our lives to God is such a radical idea that most of us have great difficulty in accomplishing the surrender.  The act of surrendering control is difficult because we like making decisions and choices, planning and implementing, creating and directing. We are encouraged to become independent in all thoughts and actions. Surrendering has a negative connotation when we think it means “giving in” or “giving up”.  Even dealing with a full-fledged handicap is not usually welcomed as an asset even though many of us compensate effectively for multitudes of different and varying degrees of handicap.But Paul is talking about spiritual surrender not an abandonment of self-control.

The blessing of this radical change of thinking is that God already knows what we need.  The marvelous grace of God is the gift given freely because of the sacrifice of his Son on Calvary.  Surrendering to God—Letting Christ take over—gives us the strength we require for any situation or activity. God promises to accept us as we are, with our limitations and handicaps, with no strings attached.  Ah, the mystery of love!!!

This hymn about God’s grace is one example of the depth of God’s love for us(#365 in the Methodist Hymnal):

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Freely bestowed on all who believe!

Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, You that are longing to see his face,

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt, will you this moment his grace receive?

Grace, Grace, God’s grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within,

Grace, Grace, God’s grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Julia H. Johnston (1911)

Dear Loving God, We humbly ask you to forgive us for our sins.  We thank you for your amazing gift of love and acceptance—love beyond our wildest imagination.  Help us to surrender to your guidance and plan for our lives.  Help us to accept the grace that you so freely offer.  AMEN

Chyrl Budd
P.S   Happy Independence Day Weekend, everyone.  Celebrate responsibly!!