THE GRACE OF GOD PROVIDES STRENGTH

Avon Malone

 

Grace is not only a purging power for the past, but an enabling dynamic for the present. This can be seen in three great Corinthian passages. The heart that serves best is the heart which overflows with an awareness of God’s grace. In First Corinthians 15:9-10, Paul writes:

 

For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed, upon me was not found vain: but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I but the grace of God which was with me.

 

God’s grace has taken care of the past debt, but that is not all. Paul can say, “his grace which was bestowed upon me was not found vain: but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

Released and freed, Paul wholeheartedly, joyfully, and lovingly plunged into a life of service. Paul’s enabling dynamic was God’s grace! Why is it that people will work more effectively and tirelessly when motivated by grace? What is the secret of grace’s power? Part of the answer is seen in the fact that guilt, that from which grace releases us, causes a great loss of energy.

Those who are burdened down heavily by the past cannot be powerful and productive in the present. Grace frees us from the past (Phil. 3:13f). God forgives and forgets (Heb. 8:12). A teacher among the ancient Greeks told a student, “I can teach you to remember . . .” The student interrupted, “Oh no, teach me to forget.” When we need to forget, grace enables us to do so. Grace helps us to get over religious hypochondria and preoccupation with the past. Grace, then, becomes the great dynamic behind healthy, productive activity in the kingdom.

Grace overcomes the kind of distrust which says: “Maybe He is not able to take care of me and to look out for my welfare. Maybe I had better look out for number one.” This is the kind of distrust and self-sufficiency which plagued the pair in Eden (Gen. 3:4ff). This is the essence of sin. It is also the beginning of what has been called “closed-in self,” which says, “I’ll take care of this thing. Maybe God won’t be able to handle it.” A problem with this attitude is that it looks upon God, who cannot be defeated or overcome, as the ultimate threat. Not only is God viewed as threatening, but others are often perceived in the same way.

Grace is the answer to the dilemma of distrust. It enables us to labor abundantly, reaching out to other people. When we accept “God as our helper in a world of needy others,” and his grace frees us, we are ready for joyful service. With Paul we can say, “I labored . . . yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”

While grace is the enabling dynamic for abundant labor, it is also the power that releases the ability to give sacrificially:

 

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia; how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints: and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God (2 Cor. 8:1-5).

 

Paul says something remarkable about the Macedonians. If put in an equation form, it would be: a great trial of affliction plus deep poverty equals the riches of liberality. Paul called all of this, in one word, “grace.” This was the grace of God bestowed upon the churches of Macedonia. What moved the Macedonians to give beyond their power? The churches of Macedonia were moved by God’s grace. Human mechanics (buildings and budgets, plans and programs) will never be a substitute for the divine dynamics. The great dynamic is grace, unmerited favor which not only pardons us but enables us to live and give freely and fearlessly.

Grace also provides the power to persevere and prevail. Hear Paul in a very personal passage:

 

And by reason of exceeding great-ness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch. Concerning this thing I be-sought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Cor. 12:7-9).

 

Whatever the “thorn in the flesh” may have been, it must have been a great trial for Paul. Paul wanted to be free from it and prayed three times that it might be removed. God answered that prayer with a “No!” He said, “My grace is sufficient for thee and my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Some have been slow to learn that, often power is generated, not in spite of the thorn, but because of the thorn.

Paul had a difficulty in his life, and he wanted it removed, but God’s grace provides the power to endure and overcome. In fact, by grace power is generated be-cause of Paul’s thorn.

Grace, from the word charts, means that which is beautiful. It is beautiful not only in its purging power, but also in its enabling power. Day by day, we find in grace the dynamic for victory. Grace, then, enables us to joyfully do the will of our Lord. We sing:

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed: To do the will of Jesus—this is rest.

The heart that has found its home in God’s great grace, finds doing the work of Jesus its delight and its rest. Grace provides the power to labor, the power to sacrifice, and the power to prevail.