2 Corinthians 12:1-10 has for many years been one of my favorite portions of scripture. Paul’s testimony reminds me of what I find myself in need of time and time again. I never fail to be encouraged when I read those precious words,” My grace is sufficient for thee”. Knowing we live in the grip of God’s grace gives us a sense of security that cannot be found anywhere else. Charles Swindoll said it well:

This is a good time to correct faulty thinking. It is not always God’s will that you be healed. It is not always the Father’s plan to relieve the pressure. Our happiness is not God’s chief aim. He doesn’t have a wonderful (meaning “comfortable”) plan for everybody’s life—not from a human perspective. Often His plan is nowhere near wonderful. As with Paul, His answer is not what we prayed and hoped for. But, remembering that He is forming us more and more into the image of His Son, it helps us to understand His answer is based on His long-range plan, not our immediate relief.

Thankfully, in the midst of that suffering, He gently whispers, “My grace is sufficient for you” (v. 9). As with Paul, His grace supplies more than we need to endure whatever it is that threatens to undo us. Let me amplify that thought. His grace is more sufficient than your strength. His grace is more sufficient than the advice of any trained counselor or close friend (though God uses both). His grace is sufficient to carry you through whatever your own unique “thorn” may be. His grace—that’s the ticket.

Would you like to know why? Because God’s power is perfected in weakness (v. 9). What an amazing statement from the Lord! And all this time we thought power was perfected in success. We’ve been taught all our lives that it is achievement that makes us strong. No. A thousand times, no! Those things make us proud and self-sufficient and independent. Painful thorns make us weak. But the good news is this: when we are weak, He pours His strength into us, which gives an entirely new perspective on pain and suffering, hardship and pressure. Those stresses and strains drive us to our knees. It’s at that point our God comes through, takes us by the hand, and by His grace lifts us up.

His grace is sufficient for you too.

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. –1 Corinthians 15:20

Pastor Greg Laurie writes: I read about a person who wrote the following to a local newspaper advice columnist: Dear Uticus, Our preacher said on Easter that Jesus just swooned on the cross and that His disciples nursed Him back to health.  What do you think?  Sincerely, Bewildered. 

The columnist replied, Dear Bewildered, Beat your preacher with a cat of nine tails with 39 heavy strokes, nail him to a cross, hang him in the sun for six hours, run a spear through his heart, embalm him, put him in an airless tomb for 36 hours, and see what happens.  Sincerely, Uticus.

What sets the Christian faith apart from all other beliefs and religious systems in this world?  It might come down to this: If you go to the tombs of any of the prophets on which world religions have been founded, you will find them occupied.  But if you go to the tomb of Jesus Christ, you will find it empty, because He is alive.  We serve a living Savior.

This is why the resurrection of Jesus is such an important message and also why it has been opposed so much throughout history.  The devil knows that the Resurrection spells his defeat.  He also knows that if you believe this great truth that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose again from the dead, it can change your life.

Not only can it change your life, but putting your faith in Him also means that you will have a new, resurrected body someday.  As believers, we have this great hope that we, too, will live again.

And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. –Luke 23:23-24

Man’s ignorance is appalling. We never see a better example of this than in the crucifixion of Christ. Yet in stark contrast we see the wisdom, power, and love of God on display at the cross. He allowed and used the worst thing to accomplish the best. John Flavel said it well in these words:

Did Christ stand arraigned and condemned at Pilate’s bar? Then the believer shall never be arraigned and condemned at God’s bar. Had God intended to have arraigned us, he would never have permitted Christ, our surety, to be arraigned and condemned for us.

Christ stood at this time before a higher judge than Pilate; he stood at God’s bar as well as his. Pilate did but that which God’s own hand and counsel had before determined to be done. Out of his condemnation flows our justification: and had not sentence been given against him, it must have been given against us.

O what a melting consideration is this! that out of his agony comes our victory; out of his condemnation, our justification; out of his pain, our ease; out of his stripes, our healing: out of his gall and vinegar, our honey; out of his curse, our blessing; out of his crown of thorns, our crown of glory; out of his death, our life: if he could not be released, it was that you might.

If Pilate gave sentence against him, it was that the great God might never give sentence against you. If he yielded that it should be with Christ as they required, it was that it might be with our souls as well as we can desire. And therefore, thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”   (Philippians 4:6-7).

No care but all prayer. No anxiety but much joyful communion with God. Carry your desires to the LORD of your life, the guardian of your soul. Go to Him with two portions of prayer and one of fragrant praise. Do not pray doubtfully but thankfully. Consider that you have your petitions, and therefore thank God for His grace. He is giving you grace; give Him thanks, Hide nothing. Allow no want to lie rankling in your bosom; “make known your requests.” Run not to man. Go only to your God, the Father of Jesus, who loves you in Him.

This shall bring you God’s own peace. You shall not be able to understand the peace which you shall enjoy. It will enfold you in its infinite embrace. Heart and mind through Christ Jesus shall be steeped in a sea of rest. Come life or death, poverty, pain, slander, you shall dwell in Jesus above every rolling wind or darkening cloud. Will you not obey this dear command?

Yes, LORD, I do believe thee; but, I beseech thee, help mine unbelief. —-From “Faith’s Checkbook”