The Gift of the Gospel

It’s Finally Fall in Texas

Dear Patheos Friends: October blessings are upon us! Already half way through the month and I am just getting to update you here. Appreciate your patience. And it is finally fall season here in Texas. This week our temperatures are ranging from 50s to 80s degrees. Our weather finally made up its mind it’s time for some crispy air. Special love and prayers to everyone affected by the recent hurricanes across many states. It has been a challenging year with the extreme weather patterns we have had. This month of October brings with it lots to observe and celebrate. From National Mammography Day, World Humanitarian Action Day to National Pumpkin Day, it is a month of highlights.

Thoughtful Feedback

In the last episode of one of the podcasts that I get to co-host (Points of Leadership-Leading With Strengths), we received a Biblical feedback and that’s what this post is about. Since the feedback was more a spiritual feedback, I wanted to address here on Patheos (I mentioned it in our recent episode). Thank you Mindy for the thoughtful feedback. Here it is: Could you please explain this Bible verse (2 Corinthians 12:9) and how that relates to leading with one’s strength? It is confusing. This was one of those questions that takes you into prayer and study. And I asked my husband his thoughts on the scripture too. Here are some things to reflect on and see how the Holy Spirit teaches you more on it in your prayer time.

Apostle Paul’s Vision

To get a better understanding of the verse, let’s take a look at the preceding verses to give us the context of verse nine. In this chapter twelve of 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul shared about his walk with God- the visions he has had. He shares some vivid details of some of the visions- being caught up to paradise and hearing some inexpressible things that he was not permitted to tell about. A standout from Paul’s experiences in his chapter, is the abundance of visions and exceptional spiritual encounters he had. To better understand why Paul was extremely appreciative of these experiences, we take a look at his conversion in the book of Acts chapter nine, where we see the gift of the Gospel of Christ in display.

The Gift of the Gospel

Paul (called Saul of Tarsus) derived pleasure in persecuting Christians back then. He was known for targeting Christians with the help of the high priest. Christ disciples were arrested for no reason and persecuted. On one of Paul’s targeted assignments against Christians at that time, he had a miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus. Paul was born again! This encounter would dramatically change Paul’s life. After his conversion, many in the church at that time did not trust Paul and gave him cold treatment. Fast forward to the scripture in question (2 Corinthians 12:9), Paul’s spiritual experiences ignited in him a sense of humility. This is a great lesson for all followers of Christ.

Power of Transformation

This sense of humility can be seen in 2 Corinthians 12: 7-9; Paul states, God gave him a divine balance from his abundant spiritual experiences with a thorn in his flesh, that he wanted taken away. With this balance, God encouraged Paul with verse nine, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul could boast about all the special spiritual encounters he has had, instead he chose to focus on his weaknesses- which in Christ became his strengths as he shared in Philippians 3. This is the transformative power that comes from the gift of the Gospel. Christ makes new. Christ transforms. Christ becomes strength in His followers. And Christ’s strength in His followers is supernatural and unstoppable! What a gift we have in the Gospel of redemption. Jesus Christ truly saves and His salvation has nothing to do with anything we do or don’t do. This salvation cannot be earned, but received as a gift because Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for our eternal salvation!