If you have changed, you’re not your past!
Amen?!

The apostle Paul’s salutation in II Cor. 2:2 reads: “Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” God’s grace is amazing! The word “grace” carries with it a number of meanings. It certainly is God’s unmerited favor. It is also His supernatural ability to come along side us and in times of weakness we can draw strength from the Almighty! It seems a paradox — when we are weak then we are strong — the grace of God can be with us in that moment to give strength.  Paul spoke to those in Rome with authority, because of this grace that was given to him by God (Rom. 15:15). He wrote to the church in Corinth about how he labored more than any other minister. He also told them his ability to relentlessly labor was not anything he personally was capable of doing by his own strength (I Cor. 15:10). He made a comparison in the same verse, and used the words “Not I, but the grace of God was with me.”

So, the definition of grace we are focusing on in this article is mainly the ability that God gives us that goes beyond what ability or strength we may have. Grace was something the apostle Paul had experienced over and over again while reaching out past his own limitations, both physically and mentally. He talked about being stoned and left for dead, and being in perils of waters and with false brothers. He even confessed his fears (II Cor. 7:5). He was, what the Bible called, pressed beyond measure. In addition, he had the care of the churches in his heart and yet, was not able to see to their needs. Paul spoke about sorrow that was continual, but God supplied him with joy, as well! No one in ministry can carry the weighty sorrows that accompany ministry unless the grace and consoling power of God is right there helping to carry those burdens. The great apostle looked back on his experiences and wrote: “Thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ.” We fail in our own efforts. Thank God, that like the apostle Paul, we have, over and over again, experienced the consolation that God gives! Many of us are well acquainted with our abilities and limitations, even our distresses. Yet, God is faithful, He doesn’t allow a test to consume our minds and overwhelm our hearts. We are not sufficient of ourselves, but God teaches us well that He alone causes us to triumph in Christ!

We see how Paul pulled back the curtains on the spiritual success of his life. He tells us in II Cor. 2:1-11 that God is the God of all comfort (vs. 3) and He comforts those who are involved in ministry for Jesus Christ (vs. 4). Paul’s success and the success of other ministers associated with him, was they had experienced God’s consoling grace in the face of extremely challenging times (vs. 4). That comfort they had experienced was the same comfort they were able to speak about to others who were suffering at the church in Corinth (vs. 4). He states that this is the comfort of God! This supernatural comfort is the grace of God he often wrote about at the beginning and ending of his letters — that grace needs to be extended, even multiplied to every believer. Grace is sufficient; consolation is sure. According to the apostle, as troubles increase and dangers surround us, so will God’s consolation increase and surround us (vs. 5)! These leaders were first partakers and examples of suffering and they wrote words in the good book to encourage us when we suffer. Jesus’ own words have carried many souls through their darkest times: “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”

The remaining verses in Corinthians (vs. 6-11) give us great insight into facing challenging times. They speak of how times of tribulation are common to everybody and no one is exempt (vs. 6). The verse following assures us that those Christians who feel the real weight of suffering will not need to carry that heaviness alone (vs. 7). It is significant to note that Paul and these ministers speak to us today about being faced with death (vs. 8-10). They had become men who had no confidence in themselves to deliver themselves from pending death. We see a special grace, coupled with faith, when Paul made the statement that they have such confidence in God — while confronting death — that God was able to raise them from the dead (vs. 9-10)! Only God can meet with us and secure within us that type of faith! Finally, we find an obscure passage of scripture in the book of Psalms. It reads: “For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death.” (Ps. 48:14 – NKJV).

Be well!

(Holy Spirit inspired. Not Ai generated.)