“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God that I was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
What has God’s grace done in your life? Take a moment and jot down a couple things…
Paul here, possibly the greatest enemy of the CROSS OF CHRIST… was so radically converted that he went from the greatest enemy to then possibly the GREATEST propagator of THE GOOD NEWS. How does this happen? How does God take a broken down sinner, who’s hopeless, in bondage, and seemingly done in this world and turn him or her into a vessel of honor and light nearer for Jesus Eternal Kingdom?
Say it with me… GRACE.
I love what Martin Luther said about grace here:
“Although out of pure grace God does not impute our sins to us, He nonetheless did not want to do this until complete and ample satisfaction of His law and His righteousness had been made. Since this was impossible for us, God ordained for us, in our place, One who took upon Himself all the punishment we deserve. He fulfilled the law for us. He averted the judgment of God from us and appeased God’s wrath. Grace, therefore, costs us nothing, but it cost Another much to get it for us. Grace was purchased with an incalculable, infinite treasure, the Son of God Himself… Jesus!”
May God’s GRACE work in you a holy hunger for His Word, a compass like needle in prayer to never feel settled until your prayerfully pointed north towards God with your anxieties and petitions, and a compassion to share the GOOD NEWS with everyone you come in contact with that God is not mad at them, but on the contrary LOVES THEM WITH AN UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
By His Spirit,
Pastor Bill