In my introductory post I may have misspoken listing a few of the lessons I’ve learned on the road. Much like an NFL referee replaying a call challenged, I reread what I had written only to discover some not-so-clear language. I do not approach these lessons as an expert in the field – but as one He’s working these lessons into through the ministry, He has placed me in. And while it’s a bit raw, my desire is to pull back the curtains for anyone who may be interested in reading some ramblings from the road.
Let’s hang the balloons and put icing on the cake – we made it a full-year in traveling evangelism (itinerant preaching). That’s grace! Not an act of human ingenuity but of Divine favor granted by our gracious God. Sufficient grace: that’s what it is, to be sure. It’s grace above. It’s grace below. It’s grace ahead. It’s grace behind. It’s grace beside. We are surrounded by grace. John 1:16, “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace”, speaking of accumulating grace building up in abundance as we live in light of eternity. Can I put it this way? Everything we have is grace. Everything we need is grace.
When I think of the phrase, “God’s grace is sufficient”, I am immediately transported to 2 Cor. 12:7-10 where God teaches Paul two lessons. Two profound lessons are taught which are best articulated these lyrics, “they are weak, but He is strong. Yes! Jesus loves me”.
Paul’s Weakness:
Paul learned from “the thorn in the flesh” how weak he really was. Many have speculated what the thorn was. Some have suggested this was physical, some emotional, some spiritual, but it wasn’t given a name. And because of that, it seems deliberately relatable to whatever you’re facing in this life. Are you facing a trial? I’ve faced a few as of late. Without qualifying them, rating them, or even naming them – the secret’s out. Trials hurt. Hardships aren’t any fun. Many time we grow so discouraged because we’re struggling and afraid. Trials may hurt but they help. They help us to see our weakness.
God’s Power:
Oftentimes, we want to remove our weaknesses. Paul persistently asked that the thorn be removed, but God had the final word, and it was not removed. Why would a loving God withhold the opportunity for Paul to experience strength? God knew, “for my strength is made perfect in weakness”. God wanted Paul to experience more than personal strength. In fact, this thorn became a gift providing an inlet for Paul to experience a power greater than his own. He experienced through this the power of God. A power which caused Paul, in this dark moment to extol, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” That’s grace!
Over the last several months, I’m learning the difference between the first and second year (we will articulate this in future posts). There was an era where the land was filled with evangelists, but many are shocked (some even upset) that I’m seeking to live out this call to full-time vocational itinerant preaching in the current Christian climate. But His grace is sufficient. I am weak. He is strong. The hymn writer John Stallings expressed it this way:
Learning to lean
Learning to lean
I'm learning to lean on Jesus,
Finding more power than I've ever dreamed,
I'm learning to lean on Jesus.
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