"My Grace is Sufficient for You"

And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because my power is made perfect in weakness.” 1 Corinthians 12:9

 These are the words of the Lord to the Apostle Paul as he ponders upon the thorn in the flesh which troubles him constantly. Scripture never reveals the source of the torment. Some speculate that it was a physical ailment which troubled him, perhaps advancing blindness or the chronic effects of rheumatoid arthritis. Perhaps it was a pet sin which troubled his conscience to the point of causing him physical distress. We do not know. And we do not need to know.

 What we do need to know the Lord provided in His answer to Paul’s requests to have the thorn taken away. First, the Lord tells Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Notice that God, in His grace, did not take away the torment Paul underwent. But God’s grace gave Paul the strength to stand up under the torment. Knowing his sins have been forgiven in Christ, Paul could stand up against the lies of the evil one which tried to get him to question God’s love in the face of his pain. Paul could respond, “So you think God does not love because I am undergoing earthly pain? Well His grace says otherwise. If He did not spare His only Son for me, for the world, how can you say He is unloving?” God’s grace is always sufficient, always proving His love for us.

Then the Lord provides another truth, “My power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul realized that in his ministry God had revealed many things to him, things which God had not revealed to others. Had Paul not been weakened by his thorn in the flesh, he may have become conceited, considering himself superior to the other apostles. Through the thorn, Paul knew that he was not a success because of his own power and abilities. Paul’s ministry was successful because even though he was weak, God chose to work through him. Paul will bear up under weakness, insult, hardship, and persecution. Why? He does so because through these, Christ’s power becomes known. When Paul is weak in his personal self, Paul is strong in Christ.

 Dear brothers and sisters in a powerful and merciful Lord, may your lives be built upon grace, the grace of God which cannot be denied. May you boast in your weaknesses because through these Christ’s strength will be revealed in your lives. You are loved beyond all understanding. May Christ be your true anchor in troubled times of torment so you do not drift away.

 Frank Van Brocklin

Principal/Staff Minister

During the upcoming week at Immanuel Lutheran School:

❖ Thursday, February 10 School Board - 6:00 PM

❖ Friday, February 11 Third Quarter Midterm

❖ Tuesday, February 15 Church Council - 6:00 PM

❖ Wednesday, February 16 Early Release - 1:40 PM - No Afternoon Busing Provided

❖ Thursday-Friday, February 17, 18 Teachers’ Conference - No School