(1 Cor 15:9,10 Phillips) I am the least of the messengers, and indeed I do not deserve that title at all, because I persecuted the Church of God. But what I am now I am by the grace of God. The grace he gave me has not proved a barren gift. I have worked harder than any of the others – and yet it was not I but this same grace of God within me.
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to learn more about the amazing life of the Apostle Paul, who was raised “Saul of Tarsus.” I trust you have learned something about the Apostle Paul this week that you did not previously know and as you get a greater appreciation for the man behind the writings, my prayer is that the Lord would be able to use Paul’s writings in a greater way in your life. At the end of the day these messages are about you and not Paul. The Bible is not a textbook to study, but rather a life-book to live. While I hope you enjoy the messages the Lord inspires me to write, and I do seek to make the messages both informational and inspirational, at the end of the day my desire is that you turn the corner from information to application. If the Word does not change you internally and influence your actions externally, then you are not allowing the Word to work in your life. The Word will work if you work the Word.
All week I have provided the two above verses for your reading, but I have not said much about them. Let’s close out the week by briefly discussing these two verses:
“I am the least of the messengers”
The word “messengers” here is also translated “Apostles.” While Paul was definitely called to be an Apostle, he was not part of the original 12, he did not have the privilege of walking with Jesus during his earthly ministry, and when comparing himself to the others Paul considered himself the least. This is an indicator of the level of humility Paul walked in and another example of how much he understood and appreciated God’s Grace.
“I do not deserve that title at all, because I persecuted the Church of God”
Paul knew he was deserving of the title (Apostle) or the calling, because he knew his background. While he was completely sincere when he was persecuting the church of God, he was sincerely wrong. His passion, drive, motivation and zeal were all pointed in the wrong direction. He was fighting against God and His people, but God chose to use him anyway, by Grace!
“But what I am now I am by the grace of God”
Whatever Paul was and whatever he was not, he attributed it to God. Even though he arguably outshined all the other Apostles, Paul was not willing to take the credit, because he knew his accomplishments came by Grace.
“The grace he gave me has not proved a barren gift. I have worked harder than any of the others”
Paul knew that while God’s Grace towards him was a free gift, he had to decide what to do with it. Paul understood the fact that we are not puppets and God is not some great puppet master pulling the strings from heaven. We get a choice in the matter. We can choose to either work the gift, seeking to maximize our purpose and potential, or we can reject the gift and attempt to live our lives without God. Once Paul was aware that he was off course and that God had actually called him to help the people he was fighting against, he changed directions with equal fire, force and fervor.
“and yet it was not I but this same grace of God within me”
Looking back over everything he had accomplished in, with and through Christ, Paul refused to take the credit. Even though he had a choice in the matter, even though he had to choose to work hard to fulfill his life’s assignment, and even though he had to overcome lots of opposition to make it happen, Paul still gave God the credit. Paul knew that even the part that he contributed to his success came by God’s Grace.
So what does this mean to you today? A few quick things:
1. Never think more highly of yourself than you ought to think (Rom 12:3). Remember that you are who you are by the Grace of God. This will help keep you from pride.
2. Make the most of your time in the earth. Don’t let God’s Grace towards you be in vain. Don’t waste the Grace, embrace the Grace and seek to maximize the purpose and potential God put in you.
3. Acknowledge Grace. You know you have not been perfect, you know you are not worthy of the assignment God has given you, and you know God has been better to you than you have been to Him. But don’t beat yourself up about your inadequacies. God knew all your flaws and He called you anyway. Acknowledge God’s Grace and run with it, seeking to impact this generation.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for making plans for me before the foundations of the world. You made plans for me by Grace. It was impossible for me to have earned or deserved those plans, because You made them before I was born. Therefore, Your purpose for my life is a Grace-filled gift and I freely receive it as You reveal it to me. And as I seek to walk it out, I have to constantly remind myself that You did not call me because I am so good, because I am worthy, or because I earned it. No, You called me by Grace before the foundations of the world and I could have never earned it. As a matter of fact, if you took into account my works, and everything I have done in the earth that is NOT pleasing in your sight, then I would be a man-most-miserable. But instead of you looking to me to earn my assignment, You called me by Grace and You sent Your Son Jesus to die for me, paying the penalty for my sin. Therefore, I embrace the Grace, I walk in the newness of the life Christ Jesus died to give me, and I seek to make the most of my days in the earth. I don’t look down on anyone, because I know I am far from perfect. I don’t claim to be more than I am, because I know I would be lost without You. I don’t even claim to have accomplished much in the earth with my own ability, because I acknowledge the fact that even the few things I have done to contribute to my success came by Your Grace. I am not a self-made man, I am a God-made man and I am not ashamed to say it! I am who I am by Your Grace and I shall make the most of my assignment. I declare that by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
