The word for this week is sufficient.
Sufficient, as is “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
That was what God said to Paul after Paul asked Him three times to remove his thorn in the flesh.
We don’t know what the thorn was, though many have speculated on what it was. I know I have wondered about it.
The point is, whatever the thorn in the flesh was for Paul, it might not be the same thorn in the flesh that we may have. And regardless, God’s grace is sufficient for us, too. His power is made perfect in weakness. The same as it was for Paul.
The thing is though, saying it isn’t the same as believing it.
2 Corinthians 12:9 was just one of several scriptures used by my preacher on Sunday, which talked about joy in suffering, having sufficient grace and power, and being made perfect in weakness.
Justin Miller gave his lesson from the Book of James;James who was one of Jesus’ brothers. Justin began his sermon in James 1:2, which says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.”
Do you consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds?
I don’t. Not really. But this verse changes that. Or it could change it.
If you read verse 3, you realize that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. And in verse 4, we find that we need perseverance to finish its work so we might be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Justin’s second scripture was Philippians 1:6, which reads, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
So, let’s do a little review.
First, we’re told to consider it pure joy, not just joy but PURE joy, when we face trials of many kinds. This isn’t the Gospel of Prosperity that so many preachers talk about. This is about facing trials of many kinds that all Christians face.
Second, we’re told that the testing of our faith produces perseverance.
Thirdly, we’re told that perseverance must finish its work so we will be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
And, number four, we’re told that God, who began that good work in us, will carry it on to completion, until the day of Christ Jesus.
Does the saying, “No pain, no gain” mean anything to you?
Spiritually, can we have gain without pain?
I don’t think so.
Sometimes I’ve prayed for things like patience.
You have to be careful when praying for patience because often times, probably every time, you can’t gain patience without pain of some kind. I’ve tried praying for patience with the caveat that it doesn’t hurt or hurt so much. And it just doesn’t work.
No pain, no gain.
Paul was the Apostle who wrote the two letters to the Corinthians. It was in the second letter that God told Paul that His grace was sufficient and that His power was made perfect in weakness.
In verse 7 Paul wrote, “I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” In the next verse Paul said he asked God three times to remove it, to take it away.
Three times God said no, telling Paul in verse 9 that his grace was sufficient for him and His power was made perfect in weakness. He was talking about Paul’s weakness, but he was also talking about yours and mine.
If there’s not pain, we know the message is probably from Satan. That’s what Justin said. And that’s what I believe.
That’s what Jesus tells us in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
And He did.
And we can overcome our trouble.
It cost Him His life. But if He didn’t die there would be no Resurrection.
As Justin said, God didn’t prevent the cross. But He prepared Jesus for it.
As James, the brother of Jesus said, in James 1:12, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
If we love Jesus, we will have trials, we will have troubles, we will be tested.
But when we stand the test, if we trust Jesus, we’ll receive the crown of life. The crown Jesus promised us.
That is how we can consider it pure joy when we face trials of any and many kinds.
