Gracious Enabling: The Pathway to God’s Glorification
Isaac Megbolugbe
January 30, 2026
The apostle Paul’s prayer in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 reveals a profound truth: God’s glory is magnified through the exercise of his grace. This passage showcases the beautiful dynamic between God’s gracious enabling and our dependence on him, ultimately leading to the glorification of Christ Jesus.
Paul prays that God would make us worthy of his calling, fulfilling every good resolve and work of faith through his power. The goal? That the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in us, and we in him. This highlights the incredible truth that God’s power is at work in us, enabling us to live out our faith, and in doing so, bringing glory to his name.
The mechanism is simple yet profound: God gives the power, we exercise faith, and he receives the glory. This is the “deal” that keeps us humble and happy, while keeping God supreme and glorious. We’re reminded that God’s answer to our inadequacies is not a mere self-help mantra, but a supernatural infusion of power, rooted in his grace.
The prayer in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 illustrates this beautifully. Paul asks God to fulfill our good resolves “by his power,” resulting in “works of faith.” The outcome? Jesus is glorified in us. The giver gets the glory; God gave the power, and God gets the glory. We receive the help, and he receives the praise.
This understanding revolutionizes our approach to Christian living. It’s not about mustering up strength or grit; it’s about relying on God’s gracious enabling. As we’ve seen, God is glorified not only through his wrath (Romans 9:22) but also, repeatedly, through the display of his grace (Isaiah 30:18).
The implications are life-changing: trust God for gracious enabling, and he gets the glory when the help comes. We get the help; he gets the glory. This is why Christian living, not just conversion, is good news. It’s a testament to the God who empowers, sustains, and glorifies himself through our dependence on him.
Let this truth sink deep: God’s glory is tied to our reliance on his gracious enabling. As we trust him for power, he gets the glory, and we experience the joy of being empowered by his Spirit. This is the pathway to glorification – not through our strength, but through his.
Isaac Megbolugbe, Director of GIVA Ministries International, retired professor at Johns Hopkins University, 2024 Marquis Organization’s Class of Top Executives in the United States of America and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He is resident in the United States of America.
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