The Rest of the Story- GRACE OVERCOMES
The Rest of the Story
by
Rocky Fleming
Tuesday -Grace Overcomes
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But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV)
Why did God tell Paul that His grace was sufficient for anything he would face? It is because God's grace enables us to be and do anything required, as we confront any challenge in life. God's grace overcomes, and we need to explore what His grace overcomes in our life, for it is good, and it is sufficient. Consider these things:
- Grace overcomes God's judgment. David prayed to God, "Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just." (Psalms 51:4 NLT) The penalty for sin is death. But through His grace, God has withheld His judgment against us. If God were only a Just God, then justice would demand a verdict of death. But God is aGracious God. Thank God that by His grace He sent Jesus to pay our penalty, and to die for us. Do you believe this, for this acknowledgement allows you to embrace His gift to you?
- Grace overcomes our separation from God. Through His grace, God came and got us. He acted first by sending Jesus. This is illustrated in the image above. God is perfect and sinless, and yet He is compassionate and loving. He knows that we cannot make it across the great divide that separates us from Him by our own goodness or perfection. Instead, His grace has bridged that gap by allowing the perfection of Jesus to be our own perfection which is the condition for entering into God's family. It requires perfection. Have you received this gift, for it is the Wedding Garment that Jesus references for joining Him in heaven, and this "garment"is required for all guests? (see Matthew 22:11-14)
- Grace overcomes our condition. All of us begin life separated from God. We are all filthy with sin. But grace overlooks that condition and sees beauty beneath our veneer of a stained life. It was God's grace that caused Him to declare, "Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool."(Isaiah 1:18 NLT) Have you allowed Jesus to wash you and make you clean from your sins? God's grace will overcome your faults and wade through any condition to rescue you. Will you take His hand of grace?
- Grace overcomes our limitations. When God told Paul that His grace would be sufficient, He was saying that He was giving him the best heaven could offer, which was His unlimited power to change things around his life, including that which was in his life. Do you think you have any condition in your present or past life that you think God is not willing or able to overcome? God is limited only by what you are willing to accept of Him. Will you take the best heaven has to offer and allow His grace to be all-sufficient for you?
- Grace overcomes our failures. Paul undoubtedly would have struggled with the memories of his past life. After all, he persecuted the Church as a profession and with great zeal. After his redemption and during his ministry, Paul said he lived with a "thorn in the flesh." It was some sort of debilitating condition that he described as a messenger from Satan. Was it physical, mental, spiritual, or a sense of guilt that he could never shake? Either way, God said it would remain with him for it was within this pain and check in his spirit that God kept him safe and strong, for he would remain dependent on God for the rest of his life. God changed Paul. He was no longer a persecutor, but would become one of the persecuted. He also became one of the most proficient writers and missionaries under God's leadership. That is what God's grace does. It changes lives...dramatically. Do you have failures in your life that need God's overcoming grace? His hand extends to you now. Will you take it?
When God created a rescue plan through His grace and Jesus for His family to be redeemed, He also gave us access to His heart. What we are given by Him is more than our salvation. It is also the best heaven has to offer. It is the right and privilege of sonship. Take it all my brothers. God's grace is a deep pool that never dries up. He reaches out to you today.