Such Grace!

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord. We thank God for His goodness, faithfulness and love for us.

Primary Text

“And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one prematurely and born dead [no better than an unperfected fetus among living men.] For I am the least [worthy] of the apostles, who am not fit or deserving to be called an apostle, because I once wronged and pursued and molested the church of God [oppressing it with cruelty and violence].” 1 Corinthians 15v8-9 (AMP)

We all have pasts, and sometimes looking into our pasts, there are things that we are not proud of. Paul likely felt the same. Ephesians 2v1-5 (NLT) “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil – the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!).” Hallelujah. Paul recognized this in looking at his past and all that he did to the church. He mused that he was not even fit to be an apostle. How many of us though are fit to be called children of God. But we thank God for the grace of God, through which He has saved us, and He has adopted us into the family of God. Titus 2v11-14 (NIV) saying “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.” Thank God for His grace, and the fact that we become new creatures in Christ after we are born again, justified, and made righteous in His eyes. Amen.

Supplementary Text

“But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15v10 (AMP)

Prayer

Father, we thank You for this day. We bless You for Your grace that has saved us through faith. Blessed be Your holy name forevermore in Jesus name, amen.