Thursday, October 8, 2020

A Little Bit

             Every language has a set of idioms.  We might say, “When the cat's away, the mice will play.” It sounds good and it rhymes in the English language. If you are in Spain, the same idiom might be, “When the cat's away, the mice don't go to devotions.” In Spanish, it also rhymes, but makes less sense when used in the English language. They are words that are used together which have kind of a special meaning.  The meaning is only good in that language and they often become snares for people trying to study that language.  We have a lot of "idioms" in our language.  One such phrase could be, "a little bit."  The primary use of this word is that which is put into a horse's mouth.  It can also describe a small item that is inserted into a drill and hence called a drill bit.   A later definition shows that it can also be a small part of something.  A waitress can offer you coffee and you might say, "Yes, I will have a little bit."  To a foreigner studying English, that might sound a "bit" confusing.  There is one thing we can know about God and that is that He does nothing with just a "little bit."  He supplies all of your need and He fills you to the fullest.  He just doesn't give you a "little bit" of grace but indeed you have all that you will ever need.  Second Corinthians 12:9 says, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" 

          This has to be one of the most comforting verses for believers.  While it was spoken to the Apostle Paul, we can learn by an indirect application that it applies to us also.    God's grace is sufficient to meet every need that we have had, are having and will ever have.  We can never run out of God's grace.  It would seem that we feel that we have been given an amount that is insufficient as we often pray for more of God's grace when we find ourselves in some sort of difficulty either large or small. When it comes to God's grace, we can't even get down to half a tank of God's grace.  It is always sufficient no matter what situation we face in this life.  Not only do we learn that it is sufficient for every concern of life, but we also learn another peculiar characteristic of grace.  When we are at the weakest, grace is there to provide the strength that we need.  You may have thought at one time or another that you were not going to be able to get through a particular day.  It may have been the tragic loss of a loved one or new beginnings, a new town, a new job, new friends and perhaps even a new church.  No matter what the difficulty, God's grace was sufficient to get you through.  So, are you a bit apprehensive about the future?  Are you concerned that you may not be able to bear up under some load or another?  Rest assured in the fact that God's grace is indeed sufficient.  Hang in there.  You'll make it. We might say, “No one knows the trouble I've seen.” Well, that isn't exactly true. God does know and He has given us all sufficient grace to get through even the problems of today. Praise God for His grace.

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