"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9
Russian cosmonauts exploring outer space during the Communist regime came back to testify to their atheistic training by saying they had not encountered God. That was the prevailing philosophy of the time: Expect nothing from God, for there is no God; you must do everything yourself.
Another man who knew outer space, the astronomer Copernicus (1473-1543), came to a different conviction. He confessed his Christian faith in the epitaph he chose for his grave. It reads in translation: “I require not the grace that was given to Paul; I demand not the kindness which was given to Peter. But as You gave to the thief on the cross, I pray, give also to me.” What he expected from God – forgiveness – was not something minor, but the greatest blessing God can give.
We can ask – and expect – of God what He Himself has promised in His Word. We know He has not promised to give us great riches, not a life of ease and pleasure, not worldly honor, not even escape from sickness and suffering. Saint Paul, true and faithful that he was to Christ, had his thorn in the flesh to go with all the other deprivations he endured. But God had promised that His grace and His power are made perfect in weakness.
To be at peace with God, to have His forgiveness thanks to the atoning merit of Jesus Christ, to enjoy – even in this life – a foretaste of eternal life, to be strong by the divine power of Word and Spirit working in us, this God has promised. This we may expect from God. This we may boldly and confidently ask when we pray. Our Lord Jesus has promised, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). What a wonderful gift to expect of our Lord as we work or as we rest!
PRAYER: O Lord God, grant that I may receive all that You have promised to give me for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
(Devotions from "With Jesus Every Day" copyright 1997, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time emailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 96-98 Acts 17:1-15
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