The topic of our scripture reading Sunday is thought provoking, for it has to do with God’s sufficiency. If you were to look up the word sufficiency, you would find the following; an adequate amount of something, especially of something essential. I suspect we have all said at least once, “If I only had…it would make things easier.” Although that can be true at times, it does reveal, on some level, the quagmire of our thinking; that is, how we can see life as if it is inadequate…insufficient. Enough said, for John will be speaking about this idea next Sunday. Today, we want to look at the scriptures to see what it proclaims about God’s sufficiency’
Our first text this morning is Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12, revealing God’s sufficiency in fulfilling His promises. This text speaks of the Savior who was to come that would make “intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). He of whom Isaiah spoke of is the “Seed” in which Moses spoke of long before (Genesis 3:15) and of whom the promises to Abram would be fulfilled (Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 17:7; Galatians 3:16). After the birth of Jesus, a man named Simeon, after looking upon the boy Jesus, said, “For my eyes have seen Your salvation” (Luke 2:30). God brought to fruition His promise of a Savior, the Messiah, His only begotten Son.
The next text looks at the practical aspects of everyday life: it is found in Matthew 6:19-34. Being able to see God as sufficient to meet our needs is at times difficult, but important to our journey homeward. In a world where famine exists and tragic events take place, trusting in God to care for us is truly, at times, a faith issue. That is why I like the wisdom found in Matthew 6:34,
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
At times, (more than I would like to admit), my concern for tomorrow reveals my lack of trusting in God’s sufficiency; that is, His ability to provide. Oddly enough, if I look back in my life, I see that very thing with great clarity.
Our final text for today is found in Ephesians 1:18 to 2:22 with the intent of looking at God’s sufficiency concerning salvation. What a rich text to consider! One verse that stands out to me is found in 2:13,
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
God’s redemptive plan was sufficient to achieve what sinful man needed most…salvation. And when we place trust (Ephesians 1:13) in Jesus, we have the opportunity to be
“sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,” and have “the guarantee of our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:13-14). All because of God’s sufficient plan of salvation.
Psalms 36:5, “Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.”
Dennis
