Thank you for gracious love

John Povey February 11, 2025 5 3

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1 Corinthians 15: 1-11 (NRSVA)

1 Now I should remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, 2 through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.

3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

Facing a job interview can be a daunting prospect. Employers look for the right person who has the qualifications or experience to fulfil the required criteria.

If we use this model in matters of faith, we quickly realise how unqualified we are. If we feel this way, we are in good company. Even Paul, who wrote many of the books in the New Testament, felt unworthy. The impact the grace of God had on Paul’s life was extraordinary. The grace of God changed an unworthy human being into a confident and equipped follower of Jesus. The grace of God changed that former persecutor of Christians into a missionary and an evangelist.

When you think about your achievements in life and in the service of others, do you, like Paul, acknowledge the grace of God? When you think of your shortcomings, do you look at them in light of God’s grace, knowing that He can equip you with all that you need to overcome them? With such perspective, we may proclaim the gospel with conviction, because we know its power has nothing to do with our strength alone. It is the grace of God that makes all the difference.

And so today we give thanks for gracious love. As God is gracious to Paul, God is gracious to each of us regardless of our past. The remainder of our chapters are still to be written, and by the grace of God they are full of hope and possibility.

Prayer:

Loving Heavenly Father, thank you that, like Paul, it is by your grace that I am what I am. It is by grace that I have been saved through faith, and it is by grace that I am able to grow into the image and likeness of Christ. Thank you that your grace covers all my failures, and is greater than all my accomplishments. May all that I do be to Your praise and glory. In Jesus' name. AMEN.