Grace Makes All The Difference

                          

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me (1 Corinthians 15:10)...

The Apostle Paul in the verse above celebrates the grace of God that was upon his life. From the human point of view, he never would have qualified to be an apostle. Nonetheless, he became such an outstanding apostle who laboured for the Gospel more than all the other apostles. He acknowledged the grace of God as the one factor that made all the difference in his life. It brings to mind the encounter between Gideon and the angel of the Lord in the sixth chapter of Judges. The angel appeared to him and said, “…The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour…Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?” (Judges 6:12-14). Gideon, evaluating himself from the natural standpoint, didn’t believe he was a mighty man of valour; he considered the weak position of his family and said, “…Oh my Lord, where with shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” (Judges 6:15).

However, the grace of God made all the difference in his life. God said to him, “Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man” (Judges 6:16). Don’t look at your perceived physical inadequacies; trust in His ability. All that Gideon needed was to believe God’s Word, and be confident in God’s grace upon his life; thank God he eventually did, and as a result, he was mightily used of God to accomplish the deliverance of Israel from the Midianites. God might have impressed it in your heart to do something for Him, and contrary thoughts may have been rising in your heart, making you feel you don’t have what it takes. But you need to realize that you have already been granted grace in superabundance (Romans 5:17). All you need do is to trust in God’s ability and walk in the light of His grace.

PRAYER

Dear Father, thank you for blessing me so richly with your Word; I acknowledge your grace that's at work in me, and I take advantage of it in advancing your Kingdom, taking my role as your partner in soul-winning, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study:

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

Romans 5:17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Daily Scripture Reading

1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 14:13-36, Genesis 49-50

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 8:12-22, Genesis 21

Extract From: Rhapsody of Realities, 20/01/2015.