Insufficiency.
It's a long word, but I think we understand it all too well: not enough.
In today’s world, we frequently experience the effects of “not enough.” Projects, events, commitments and dreams are postponed or cancelled or never even attempted, due to insufficient interest, insufficient time, insufficient funds.
And then there’s personal insufficiency – the inner realization that emotionally we are a house of cards that could collapse in the next gust of wind. That physically we are fragile even in the seeming best of health. That spiritually we are helpless to make the changes God is calling us to make.
The apostle Paul understood personal inadequacy. Describing the task of ministry to believers and unbelievers, he queried, “Who is equal to such a task?... not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves...” Yet he went on to add, “but our competence comes from God” (2 Corinthians 2:16-3:5 NIV).
Paul grasped a wonderful truth that he shared in a later letter to the church at Philippi: “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].” (Philippians 4:13 Amplified Bible).
Wow! Self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency! And how sufficient is Christ? Well, have you ever stood at Lake Erie’s shoreline or, better yet, on an ocean beach? If so, you’ve enjoyed a picture of Christ’s provision for us. Gospel songwriter Gordon Jensen describes it this way:
“Grace upon grace, like the waves on the shore,
Always enough,
Always more.
Grace upon grace, like the waves on the shore,
All that we need is ours from the Lord.”
God’s commitment to each of us will never be cancelled due to insufficient Love. His calling on our lives will never be scrapped because He lacks sufficient resources. His promises will never be rescinded due to insufficient divine power to fulfill them. Like wave upon wave, there’s always enough. Always more.
I’m praying for a better grasp of that truth. I do believe that if we could stand and drink in the realization that there’s an ocean of grace pounding incessantly at every shoreline in our lives, we could each say with the apostle Paul,
“I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency.”
It's a long word, but I think we understand it all too well: not enough.
In today’s world, we frequently experience the effects of “not enough.” Projects, events, commitments and dreams are postponed or cancelled or never even attempted, due to insufficient interest, insufficient time, insufficient funds.
And then there’s personal insufficiency – the inner realization that emotionally we are a house of cards that could collapse in the next gust of wind. That physically we are fragile even in the seeming best of health. That spiritually we are helpless to make the changes God is calling us to make.
The apostle Paul understood personal inadequacy. Describing the task of ministry to believers and unbelievers, he queried, “Who is equal to such a task?... not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves...” Yet he went on to add, “but our competence comes from God” (2 Corinthians 2:16-3:5 NIV).
Paul grasped a wonderful truth that he shared in a later letter to the church at Philippi: “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].” (Philippians 4:13 Amplified Bible).
Wow! Self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency! And how sufficient is Christ? Well, have you ever stood at Lake Erie’s shoreline or, better yet, on an ocean beach? If so, you’ve enjoyed a picture of Christ’s provision for us. Gospel songwriter Gordon Jensen describes it this way:
“Grace upon grace, like the waves on the shore,
Always enough,
Always more.
Grace upon grace, like the waves on the shore,
All that we need is ours from the Lord.”
God’s commitment to each of us will never be cancelled due to insufficient Love. His calling on our lives will never be scrapped because He lacks sufficient resources. His promises will never be rescinded due to insufficient divine power to fulfill them. Like wave upon wave, there’s always enough. Always more.
I’m praying for a better grasp of that truth. I do believe that if we could stand and drink in the realization that there’s an ocean of grace pounding incessantly at every shoreline in our lives, we could each say with the apostle Paul,
“I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency.”
4 comments:
Thank you for your words regarding communion. We chose to use the "steps" you outlined as a guide for taking communion. As we read through each "step", we would stop to pray about that "theme." We found it to be a very moving experience. Thanks again for the posting.
Sorry, our post was for the words you wrote under "The Lord's Table." Our bad!
Another godly woman confessed to me that Communion had been an awkward time for her, and this was helpful. Perhaps we have assumed people knew what to do with the silence...
A well is a deep hole.
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