6th July 2024

Enabling grace

Most Westerners like to think of themselves as self-sufficient, able to handle things without help and never want to appear weak or vulnerable. This isn’t unique to Americans. It was just as true in Jesus’ day. Some of the disciples had the same problem. They were used to taking care of themselves. When things didn’t go the way they had expected with Jesus, they decided to go fishing. 

In John 21:1-12, Jesus asked them if they had any fish and they had to admit they had none. By asking this, he pointed out to them that all their overnight efforts had been for nothing, leading them to realise their weakness and vulnerability. Jesus needed them to face their neediness and recognise their emptiness so they would learn to rely more fully on him. 

These were good fishermen – they were experienced and knew everything there was to know about how to catch fish, yet they caught nothing. Alistair Begg said we cannot even do what we are good at without the Lord’s help. We can neither speak nor listen, sing nor write, work nor play, without God’s enabling grace.  

Jesus knows all about our neediness, but often it takes us a long time to come to that realisation. When we do, we will understand that he doesn’t leave us in our weak state but gives us abundantly more than all we can ever ask or imagine, with more than enough strength for whatever we face. Jesus said, ‘Apart from me you can do nothing’ (John 15:5) and Paul later said, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13). His enabling grace makes all things possible.

Study by Tammy Tkach

First published on 11 June 2024, at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com a personal blog which is not sponsored by Grace Communion International.

About the writer:
Tammy Tkach is the Assistant Pastor of the Eugene, Oregon, USA, Grace Communion International congregation. She is a speaker and writer, and publishes a blog at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com  

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