Sufficient for Recognized Insufficiency

When you read something as important as God’s Word, be sure you read it completely.

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2 Corinthians 12:9 – And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

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Our Text for Today is one of the sweetest, most powerful promises found in the Holy Writ of God’s Word.  Take a moment and read it again, several times if you have opportunity.  Oh, the sweetness of the words of our Lord, “My grace is sufficient for you; for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  Let’s break it down bite by bite.

• My grace – we are writing about God’s grace, and His grace alone; the highest form of the manifestation of agape that exists, surpassing both mercy and compassion 
• is sufficient – it is greater in performing power than any opposing force 
• for thee – this grace does not come simply because there is a need; rather, we know from the Scriptures that the grace of God comes ONLY through faith  
• for My strength – once again, we are referring to a power that can come ONLY from the Most High God
• is made perfect – this is completeness that does not come from the process of maturing, for it is the perfection of God; yet in man it comes to completion as he yields himself to Father God  
• in weakness – wherever man perceives himself as having sufficient strength, grace will not be seen; only as man diminishes does the grace of God replace man’s weakness; as John said, “He (Christ) must increase; I must decrease.”

There are, in this passage, two elements that have frequently misstated, misrepresented, and misapplied.  First, Jesus did NOT say, “My grace is sufficient.”  When stated in that manner, it implies that our position in faith is not important.  But “without faith, it is impossible to please Him.”  We read clearly in Ephesians that we are saved “BY grace THROUGH faith.”  Where faith does not exist, grace does not flow.  Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for YOU.”  When YOU apply YOUR faith, YOU receive of His grace.

Secondly, Jesus said, “for My strength is made perfect.”  God IS perfect.  He has not been, nor will He ever be “made perfect.”  That would imply that our God has changed for time, and we know that is absolutely untrue.  He said, “For I am the Lord, I change not.”  And we know, too, that Jesus is the “same yesterday, and today, and forever.”  However, the perfection of God does not happen in man suddenly.  Beginning at the new birth, it is a continual process of growth in His child until the believer “unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”  The great power of God’s grace is that it always operates perfectly at the level faith is applied.  Remember, grace is God’s gift, and every gift of comes is perfect when it is given.

Manna for Today – 2 Corinthians 12:1-9; Philippians 4:19; Acts 3:16; Galatians 3:8; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 6:12; 1 Peter 1:5; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8