All-Sufficient Grace

 “My grace is sufficient for you”

Only an all-wise and omniscient God knows what we’ll encounter this year and in fact each moment. He alone knows every situation and every outcome. Moreover, He sovereignly presides over every aspect of human existence, from global events to the minutiae of each of our lives. We tend to think much of ourselves and our particular situation and less of the sovereign God who rules and reigns supreme. Is it any wonder we often live in worry, stress, doubt and fear? In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, the Chief Apostle tells of a physical affliction he endured which was of Satanic origin. Note, he didn’t seek to address the Devil but rather to take up his case with God, whom He knew had sovereignly ordained this to be so. He likely was reflecting on the patriarch Job’s dilemma. His request for the Lord to remove this thorn in the flesh was answered not only with a “no” but with God basically telling him that His purposes in this affliction were greater that Paul’s relief or comfort (“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness”). Of even greater importance is the fact that the Lord asserted that His power is manifested much greater with human weakness rather than human strength which is rooted in pride, arrogance and self-reliance. Note Paul’s response: “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” What of us? Are we willing to accept unpleasantness or suffering in our lives that the will of God may be accomplished in us and that He may receive greater glory? God has to bring about our “living-death” in order to manifest the life of Christ in us. We must die to self!

“Proud self-sufficiency and boastful self-righteousness must be leveled to make a highway for the King of kings. Divine fellowship is never bestowed on haughty, high-minded sinners. The Lord respects the lowly and visits the contrite in heart, but the lofty are an abomination to Him. My soul, beg the Holy Spirit to set you right in this respect.” C.H. Spurgeon

The working of God’s grace and all-sufficiency is expressed beautifully in this verse from John Rippon’s 1787 hymn “How Firm a Foundation”:

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Psalm 119:71 – It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.