It’s All By Grace

(1 Cor 15:9,10 NLT)  For I am the least of all the apostles.  In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.  But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results.  For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.”  If you have subscribed to Today’s Word for any length of time you know how fond I am of Paul.  One can make the argument that Paul was the most influential Christian of the first century.  Paul went on four missionary journeys throughout Asia Minor, he helped establish churches, he mentored pastors, and he wrote half the New Testament.  Without question Paul was submitted to and in sync with God’s Kingdom plans and purposes for his life.  I believe one of the things that truly helped Paul do what he did was his understanding of grace.

Paul was not there when Jesus healed a man who had been lame for 38 years.  He was not there when Jesus healed a blind man who had been blind from birth.  He was not there when Jesus took a little boy’s lunch (two sardines and five biscuits) and fed 5,000 with it.  He was not there when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.  What was Paul doing during this time?  He was studying the Law and developing a zeal that led to him becoming the worst enemy of the church.  When Stephen (the first Christian martyr) was stoned to death, Paul was too young to throw a stone, but he held the coats of the men who did.  Later Paul led the charge against Christianity and he terrorized all those who named the name of Christ.  It was only by God’s grace that Paul came to Christ, was Born-Again, and he then spent three years in pseudo-isolation in order to get ready for his true life’s assignment.

Thinking about all of this Paul says, “For I am the least of all the apostles.  In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.”  Paul knew he had not earned his assignment.  Paul made a greater impact than the 11 disciples-turned-apostles who actually walked with Jesus, but Paul knew he could not take the credit.  Did Paul work hard?  Absolutely.  Was Paul persecuted for what he was attempting to accomplish for Christ?  Without question.  Did Paul make a tremendous personal sacrifice?  You bet.  But Paul still acknowledged that both the assignment and the empowerment to carry it out came by the grace of God.  I know this is somewhat difficult to receive today, because we live in a society where everything must be earned, but Paul was clear that he did not earn it; it was freely given to him.  Later Paul wrote, “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power” (Eph 3:7).  In the last words of the passage I have provided for you today, Paul, while reflecting on his life and his accomplishments, said, “Yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.”

So what does this mean to you today?  A few quick things:

1.  Grace is amazing because through it God looks past our failures and flaws in order to focus on His Kingdom plans and purposes for our life.

2.  Through His grace God is able to take flawed material and make Holy Garments.

3.  In a society that believes you must work hard and earn everything you get, the message of grace is often rejected, because it is not understood.  With grace God freely gives you both the assignment and the empowerment to fulfill it.  You did not (nor will you ever be able to) earn it.

Closing Confession:  Father, like Paul, I too am not worthy of the assignment You have given me.  When I look back over my life I acknowledge the fact that I have failed too many times, I have violated Your Word and Your ways more times than I can remember, and in my own estimation I would have already disqualified myself from my life’s assignment.  However, through grace I realize that I cannot disqualify myself from what Jesus qualified me for.  I know I don’t deserve it, because I do receive both Your assignment and the empowerment to accomplishment it, by Your grace.  You freely give me everything I need in order to accomplish Your Kingdom plans and purposes for my life.  When I mess up – which is more often that I would like – I simply repent, I receive forgiveness from You, I forgive myself, and I keep going.  I was saved by Your grace and it is Your grace that keeps me going when I feel like giving up.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper!