Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 2:1-3:18.

Paul said, “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:4-5). 

This verse hit me like a ton of bricks. One of my great struggles is never believing that I’m good enough. After years of being trained that accidents don’t happen, mistakes only come to those who don’t pay attention, and perfection seems to be the only level of good enough, I really struggle with that. Because I do have accidents. I do make mistakes. I’m a long way from perfect.

I constantly beat myself up for not being a good enough person, good enough Christian, good enough husband, good enough father, etc. The struggle for me is that in trying to be good enough, I was still trying to find my sufficiency in me. Maybe if I just try a little harder, I can be sufficient or adequate. Maybe then I’ll be good enough.

Now please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying that I’m good enough as I am so I don’t have to worry about growing or doing better. What I am saying is being good enough is not going to come from be. If I want to be sufficient, adequate, good enough, I have to quit trying harder and simply surrender myself to God and His will. My sufficiency needs to come from Him. Further, I need to quit trying to gain my sufficiency from other people. That is, I need to quit trying to impress other people so they’ll say I’m good enough and I need to quit trying to push others down so I can feel good enough in comparison. My sufficiency won’t come from either of those sources. 

Sufficiency won’t come from me. It won’t come from other people. It will only come from God. Therefore, for today, I need to put my hand in His and let Him make me good enough by His will.

***Question: How do you find sufficiency in God?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Acts 9:1-10:48.

The story of Cornelius really hits me. Here was a good man, as far as we might count goodness. He was devout. He feared God. He taught his household to fear God. He gave to the poor. He prayed all the time. But something was still wrong. Cornelius was lost. He still needed a Savior.

Certainly, I realize that God worked it out that Cornelius would hear the message so he would be saved. But he wasn’t saved until he heard the message and responded to it. All his goodness did not save him.

I like to think I’m a pretty good guy. I mean, I know I’ve done some pretty awful things over the years. However, over all, I’m a good guy. The thing is my goodness cannot save me. Further, if I try to simply be a better guy, getting rid of the bad things I have done and increasing the good that I already do, that won’t help. If I go to heaven, it will not be because I’m good enough. It will be because God is good enough.

I have to quit resting on my good works. I have to quit thinking the way into heaven is by working harder at good works. I need to realize the only way into heaven is through Jesus Christ the Savior. The only way into heaven is to turn my life over to Him. 

That is what Cornelius had to do. That is what I have to do.

***Question: What does it mean to you to turn your life over to Jesus?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC