By Pastor Chris Davis

Day 16 — A Solid Foundation

EXPAND, A Devotional

by Pastor Chris Davis

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV

In my life, I’ve noticed that the Lord has often brought me to a place where He revisits foundational doctrines within my core beliefs.

At first, I’d wonder if I was backslidden because I was re-experiencing the elementary teachings of Christ. However, He revealed to me that at each phase of growth, a buildings’ foundation must be shored-up to ensure that it can withstand the stress of added growth.

In my experience, the Lord would confront core beliefs within my own heart through practical experiences or tests that would bring me to an awareness of a deficit or weakness present within me that He would like to strengthen. Most recently, I perceived that the Lord was working in me a greater revelation of 2 Corinthians 12:9 where the Lord said to the Apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Being confronted with your own weaknesses can be difficult, especially when the areas in which you’ve at some time or another found yourself strong seem to evade your ability to trust in them. Trusting in your own strength can look like leaning on your understanding, gifting or experience. The problem here is that sometimes, in order to bring you to a greater revelation and trust in Himself, the Lord will allow everything that can be shaken to be shaken. I’ve learned that, contrary to popular opinion, weakness is not bad when held in the light of Christ’s strength. In moments when your strengths are unreliable and your weaknesses are magnified, take solace in the words of Paul’s letter in 2 Corinthians 12:10,

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

In these times of testing, our priority should be committing to “walk in the spirit” (Galatians 5:16). It’s here, in the spirit, that all strength and provision is afforded to us for all things in life. If your life is in the spirit, then walk in the spirit. Living a crucified life is the key to walking in the spirit. This process of dying to self is indeed the road of downward mobility in which we humble ourselves and surrender to the Lord’s will so that we walk in a manner that is pleasing to Him.

I think it’s interesting to note that our life in Christ doesn’t get more complicated than the message of the cross. The apostle Paul exclaimed, “For I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me, for the life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20).

It’s enough that our lives are firmly established on the foundation of the grace of God. We should be very cautious as to how we build upon the foundation of faith in Christ, understanding that by Him and through Him ALL things hold together. If we are to “expand” this year, we will need to deal with any presence of pride in our hearts making sure that we are building on a firm foundation of faith in Christ — our all in all.

In 2018, let’s build upon the foundation of salvation by faith through grace with bold and obedient faith working through love.

Points To Ponder:

1. Why am I stepping out into new things? Is it because I see a better life than what God has revealed to me? (This is totally rooted in pride.)

2. Or am I boldly and confidently stepping out in faith as a response to what God has revealed to me by His spirit?