11/03/2017 - THE GREATNESS OF THE GRACE OF GOD

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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 which was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10

So that you would listen to and hear the Gospel and like it, God moved in a wonderful way because Adam’s sin had separated man from the Creator and filled him with deceit and rage; therefore the creature cannot accept the sane doctrine. Some did not indulge so much in sin but what matters to the devil is to lead them to reject the Truth.  On behalf of the Church, only the Lord knows how we have prayed for those who are still lost, so that they may come to the light and be freed.

Paul considered himself the greatest of sinners for in his blind religiosity he persecuted the work of God, to the point of agreeing with the death of Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian faith (Acts 7:59, 60; 8:1) However, when he continued his bloody persecution against God`s people in Damascus, the capital of Syria, he had an encounter with Jesus that transformed him ( see Acts 9 ).  Now saved and filled with the Holy Spirit he started off on a new campaign: preach the Truth that he had fought.

The apostle Paul knew that the grace of God had made him understand the divine will – the way he was able to meet and to know the Creator and to love him. Being called to the highest and most noble mission anyone could have been called, he felt the oppression that happens in people with the intent that they don’t understand the Message of life.  Paul felt in his flesh the same persecution that he had previously undertaken against the Lord`s people.  Knowing that what he did was not to his credit he declared – By God´s grace I am what I am.

He could affirm one thing with joy – God`s grace on him was not in vain. Many Christians have not paid attention to the fact that this may happen to them also, and this way the Creator`s plan for them won`t prosper.  The Almighty planned a sequence of successes for those that reach the kingdom.  However, unfortunately many do not recognize the importance of the divine grace and in so doing it bears them no fruit.

In order not to frustrate the Lord, the apostle dedicated himself intensely to God`s work proceeding as if he were the only one that the Father had called to fulfill his purpose.  All should know this and dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to achieving God`s holy plan.  When we stop our work to criticize anyone we do not act wisely.  The right thing to do is to carry out God`s orders for us and in so doing we please His heart.  The joy in the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)

Take no concern if anyone is working hard to preach the Gospel to all creatures, but it matters most to you what you are doing in this regard.  All the members of the Body of Christ must dedicate themselves to be sure that the message of salvation reaches the lost all over the terrestrial globe.  Paul did not see the Lord during His ministry as he became apostle much later, but he dedicated himself to practice God`s design more than any of the others that preceded him.

One thing to observe is that it was not really him who labored, but only God`s grace.  It would be good to say the same in your respect.  The Lord has no favorites but He honors those who honor Him.  So, like Paul, do your work as if everything depended only on you.  Amen?

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares