ICS Daily Devotions
God’s Grace Is God’s Strength
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NKJV) Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is SUFFICIENT for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (emphasis added)
The Apostle Paul was being harassed by the messenger of Satan but instead of removing the messenger as Paul had prayed for, God answered by saying that His grace was sufficient for him and His strength was made perfect in weakness. Therefore, we can conclude that God’s grace will grant us the strength especially when we are weak! Or in other words, God’s Grace = God’s Strength!
Ephesians 3:16,20 (NKJV) that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man…… Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
There is a strengthening in our inner man when God infuses His grace to us. God will grant us His strength. While we might be emotionally, intellectually and physically drained but praise be to God that our inner man can be strengthen by God daily. It is His strength that will enable us to continue or soldier on despite of the challenges that we are facing daily.
When we are strong in the inner or spirit man, we will not be easily dictated by our flesh, which easily succumbs to temptation. However, when we have not been feeding our inner man, we may have a tendency to be irritable and quick-tempered. If we yield to the flesh, then we will reap corruption as a result of our bad choices. This in turn could lead to other things such as strained relationships, bad investments or other wrong choices. Therefore, we need to build up our inner man so that we will yield to the Holy Spirit’s leading rather than our own flesh.
67% of the world’s population is uncomfortable with changes, instability and insecurity. During this COVID-19 pandemic, many people are separated from family members, have to work from home, or have to learn to cook and do the laundry without any help. Jobs are also becoming unstable. Many are forced to take wage cuts, or to convert to part-time roles with reduction in salaries. Many have lost their jobs. While others become anxious, we can humbly ask God for His grace while waiting for better days to arrive.
May His grace give us the strength to carry us through without being pressed down by the pressure during this period. We can cry out to God and ask for His grace to sustain us for God’s Grace = God’s Strength!
Sermon Series: My Grace Is Sufficient for You (Grace for Living)
