AUGUST 15, 2021 C.A.C LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL : TOPIC – GRACE FOR LIVING

By | August 15, 2021

AUGUST 15, 2021 C.A.C LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL : TOPIC – GRACE FOR LIVING

Read previous CAC Livin Water Devotionals here

LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Sunday, August 15, 2021

GRACE FOR LIVING

Read: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

2 Corinthians 12:7-10  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

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.

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.

MEMORISE:

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 (2 Corinthians 12:9)

EXPOSITION

It is not easy to live an effective Christian life if God’s grace is lacking. We begin to live an effective Christian life when we begin to live our lives to please God regardless of situations we find ourselves. Any Christian who lives his/her life for God only when things are going well for him/her lacks grace for living. It takes grace to maintain one’s integrity when facing challenges of life. Hardship and complicated issues are unavoidable in running spiritual race. Many spiritual giants have fallen by the way side when the going was tough for them, for the lack of grace. Of Saul and his son, Jonathan, David lamented, ‘How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!’ (2 Sam. 1:27).

When Paul, the apostle, was experiencing hardship and pain in his body, he prayed to God 3 different times for relief, but God said to Him, ‘My grace is sufficient for you…’ The word, grace, here goes beyond God’s unmerited favour. It is the superrnatural ability or miraculous faculty to sustain, endure hardship, and maintain our call. Grace is a manifestation of God’s power that exceeds what we can humanly and ordinarily achieve, or hope that exceeds what we can achieve, or hope for by our own labours. It is also a God-given resource that makes possible holy living when our lives and circumstances are under fire by the devil. This grace facilitates our abilities to conquer every weakness as we yield to an absolute trust in God, even when we do not see any positive response from Him.

Therefore, it takes grace for Paul to say, ‘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’ (2 Cor. 12:10). If you want to keep on going when the going is tough for you, ask for sufficient grace from God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by His Spirit. It shall be given unto you. Stay focused!

PRAYER POINTS

1. I ask for sufficient grace for living in the midst of the trial of life, in Jesus’ name.

2. Lord, add more to my grace to live my life to please You, no matter the situation.

3. Lord, give all the missionaries grace to endure the rigors of mission fields.

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Psalms 33:22 – 36:12; Romans 8:1 – 8:22

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