A GEM OF TRUTH

"My grace is sufficient for you..."  II Corinthians 12:9

      Several years ago the Lord told me to leave the church I was attending.  Disheartened, I cried out to God, saying, "Oh Lord, I love this church and my pastor.  I have wonderful friends here.  Why are You doing this to me?"  To leave my comfortable surroundings was very unsettling, to say the least.  Change has always been difficult for me.

      Some weeks later, while I was praying one morning, I distinctly heard the Lord say to me: "I want you to sit under Dr. Ken Blue's teaching because you have no understanding of grace."  Indignantly, I replied, "Whatever do You mean, Lord?"

      I thought I had a pretty good knowledge of the meaning of grace from reading opinions by various theologians on the subject.  I was soon to discover that what I had learned fell far short of the true meaning of grace.

      In obedience, I began attending Foothills Church in Rancho Bernardo, California where Dr. Ken Blue is the pastor.  His series of messages on grace have spread to a wide audience throughout the world via conferences, books, tape ministry, as well as Sunday morning sermons at Foothills Church.

      Slowly, week by week, I began to grasp the true meaning of God's grace as Ken laboriously gave one illustration after another from the Bible, and from his own life experiences.  Just as a distant light becomes brighter and brighter as you draw near, I was gaining new insight into the fullness of God's grace.

      One of the many life-changing lessons I learned came as Ken was teaching a series of messages he titled Building on Grace.  I was intrigued by his explanation concerning the widespread teaching on grace being interpreted as God's  'unmerited favor,' which he stated, is incomplete and misleading.

      So, after checking out references in both Old and New Testaments, 123 in all, Ken concluded that the true meaning of grace is God's empowering presence in your life enabling you to be all that you can be, and do all you can do.  He further states that the 'concept of power' has to be a part of any New Testament definition of grace.

      I was so excited over this revelation, I called quite a number of acquaintances, urging them to check this out for themselves.  As I pondered over this sermon, the Lord brought to mind an incident from my own life which gives credence to Dr. Ken Blue's teaching.

      A few years ago I was asked to speak about my trips to China as a Bible courier at the Hemet, California chapter of Women's Aglow International.  Having no confidence in my ability to speak before a group of ladies, I was in agony.  I prayed, "Oh, Lord, I can't do this unless You help me."  Immediately the Scripture II Corinthians 12:9 came to mind:  "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Somehow, this brought little comfort to me as I prepared my talk for the ladies.

      As I look back on that meeting, I now see the connection of God's grace and God's power at work.  During worship, as I stood at the side of the room with my hands lifted up in praise to God, I felt someone touch the top of my head.  Wondering who had touched me, I glanced around and noted there was no one standing near me.

      Just then I heard a voice speak, not audible, saying, "You have been anointed to speak.  At the end of your talk you are to call two people up for prayer;  one has a heart problem and one was sexually abused as a child.  You are to pray for them."

      I stepped up to the podium with a silent prayer for help running through my mind.  I just opened my mouth and the words flowed out even though my knees were still quaking.

      Afterwards, I obediently called the two people up for prayer, and I could sense the power of God upon them as I prayed.  It was absolutely awesome!

      On that occasion I simply obeyed the Lord with no understanding of God's power, or what His grace meant.  It is no wonder God sent me to sit under Dr. Ken Blue's teaching on grace.  God's timing is always perfect.  It has brought me to a new level of maturity.

      Truthfully, I can report that this 'gem of truth' has changed my life dramatically.  Now, I no longer have just God's unmerited favor.  I have His empowering presence in my life, enabling me to accomplish whatever God has planned that I should do.

      How thankful I am that God knew just what I needed and sent me to the right place to learn His truths.  Yes!  His grace is sufficient for me!