Scandalous Favour預覽

OVERQUALIFIED FOR MORE-THAN-ENOUGH

‘Giving thanks to the Father, who has QUALIFIED us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.’ Colossians 1:12

You fully qualify for God’s most abundant and greatest blessing in Christ. There is nothing to add or complete - you are totally and unequivocally approved right now.

And what qualified you? What was the clincher? What was the one attribute you brought to the deal that made you a prime candidate for God’s full inheritance?

Your weakness.

The Apostle Paul once asked God to deliver Him from an unnamed ‘weakness’ or ‘infirmity’. He used the word ‘infirmity’ specifically, which can mean anything of the following:

· A lack of strength or capacity to: Be in health (not well).

· A lack of strength or capacity to: Understand a thing (not smart).

· A lack of strength or capacity to: Do things great and glorious (not gifted).

· A lack of strength or capacity to: Restrain corrupt desires (not without sin).

· A lack of strength or capacity to: Bear trials and troubles (not emotionally strong).

Paul never said what his particular ‘infirmity’ was. Perhaps he was embarrassed to say. Maybe you can see yourself in the list above. I really hope so!

God’s reply is scandalous.

“My grace (my unmerited favour) is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness/infirmity.”

This is incredible. It is our weakness that qualifies us for God’s strength and inheritance. Perhaps you (like me) can rejoice that for the first time in your life you are over-qualified for something! 

Paul went on to say, ‘Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my infirmities, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.’ 

We live in a world where weakness disqualifies. Not with God. Grace cannot be grace unless it is unmerited. So without weakness that precludes us, grace could not be the force that qualifies us.

It is important to note that God did not take away Paul’s weakness/infirmity. He blessed and used him mightily despite it. This way no-one, including Paul, could say it was his strength, or goodness, or capacity that caused him to be successful or useful. Paul certainly didn’t believe this. Listen to how he described his life’s work.

‘By the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all, yet not I, but the grace of God that was within me.’ 1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV

So, give thanks to the Father who has qualified YOU. See yourself as completely qualified NOW for your full inheritance as a child of God. 

Hold your head high, walk with a royal bearing and great dignity. You are not less; nothing is above you, nothing is beneath you, and nothing is beyond you. Your weakness ensures this. You are a citizen of the Kingdom of Light. Believe it!

Beloved - All things are possible with God, and all things are possible for the one who believes.