Pastoral Connection: The Empowering Grace of God

Read Acts 9:19b – 31
“Grace is empowering, and He alone can turn my weakness into His powerful strength.”

During his honeymoon phase in his new faith, Paul probably felt walking in the grace of God made his path easy. Even sharing his testimony with the disciples in Damascus was easy, even though he used to look at them as the enemy.   This is similar to our experience when we first make Jesus our Lord, surrounded by believers at church. God’s grace feels easy when we have a lot of common ground with others that are like-minded.

Soon God’s grace felt more difficult to Paul when, like they often do to us. Outsiders got to him with their own thoughts and agendas. Facing outsiders becomes tenuous, particularly when they don’t want to hear what you say. They want you silenced. This can become humbling as Paul discovered while his disciples lowered him in a basket under the cover of night to escape those that opposed the new message he was speaking to others.

He may have expected a warm reception at the church in Jerusalem.  Instead, it was an impossible situation that forced him to learn to surrender and depend completely on the strength of God’s grace.

Dive Deeper
Isaiah 55:8: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”

James 1:2 – 4: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacing in nothing.”

Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

2 Corinthians 12:10, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Practical Application
At our time in North American history, we do not face the same circumstances Paul faced, but there are a great many tribulations to go around because many in the culture ignore scripture, don’t want to hear it, and ultimately want it stopped being spread altogether. Followers of Christ need to surrender to the Lord and trust in His grace even more at these times.

Expect trials and tribulations as you exit your comfort zone with Christ’s message and remember that those same difficulties will help you build your faith.

While we can do all things through him who strengthens us, we cannot do anything without him.