Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

The focus of our current devotional series is on the wonderful, matchless grace of Jesus. It is, indeed, broader than the scope of your transgressions and far greater than all your sin and shame. As the song states, this amazing grace has a sweet sound to it!

So, how does our Scripture reading for today fit into such a study on grace? Among many, this chapter is known as the “resurrection chapter.” The specific portion you read focused on the essence of the gospel. It reminds us that Christ…

• Died for sins
• Was buried
• Was raised on the third day
• Was seen by many

Paul listed himself as one of the eyewitnesses of Christ’s resurrection. In fact, part of the outcome of that Damascus Road encounter (Acts 9:1-19) was his own commissioning as an apostle who would “proclaim [Christ’s] name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” (Acts 9:15) Even though Paul was honored by his new title and responsibilities as a “sent one” (close to the literal meaning of “apostle”), he never forgot his past. He considered himself unworthy of his calling because of the way he had previously persecuted God’s people.

Although your story is different, the principles are the same. You, too, have a past that has made you unworthy, but you have a calling as one sent in the name of Jesus.

Verse 10 points to the grace that makes all of that possible.

“But by the grace of God I am what I am…” It was God’s grace that allowed Saul to become Paul, an antagonist, to become an apostle, one who used to persecute the people, to become one called to perpetuate the message. Don’t forget…it is God’s grace that prevents your past from defining you.

“…and his grace to me was not without effect.” Paul is saying that he took his new title and calling seriously. He did not accept the cleansing and reject the calling.  Don’t forget that God’s grace doesn’t just cleanse your past from sin. It also calls you to a present life characterized by mission and ministry.

“No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” Paul gave his all for the call. But even that was not to his credit. It was a mark of God’s grace. Don’t forget…even that which you offer in response to God is made possible by His grace.

Steve Kern

Taking it further

Check out the Grace Church Facebook page here for many people’s “Grace story” and how the Lord has changed their life with His grace.

Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

“If the goal is dependence, weakness is a strength.”

That statement fits today’s reading about God’s grace. Let’s try to understand the context of the reading a little better.

Believers in Corinth had become critical of the apostle Paul. Other so-called “apostles” had recently cast doubt on Paul’s ministry. Consequently, Paul defended his apostleship in this letter by outlining some of his experiences. He “boasted” in the suffering he had received as an apostle. You name it…from flogging to the lack of food, from shipwreck on the Mediterranean to personal threats on his life…he had experienced it (11:21-33). But Paul also described a glorious experience of witnessing the sights and sounds of paradise (12:1-5). What an amazing experience that must have been!

To keep him from boasting in that experience, God allowed Paul to have a “thorn in the flesh.” Many theologians have hypothesized about what that thorn was. (Some believe it was a problem with his eyesight.) Still, he wasn’t specific about what that thorn was. The thorn wasn’t a sin, but it was definitely something that was uncomfortable and distracting.

Most people I know are like Paul in that they have a “thorn” that they would wish away if they could. Perhaps it is a health issue or another life reality that they cannot change by themselves. In fact, like Paul, they have probably even prayed repeatedly about it, asking God to remove it.

But just as Paul learned, we too must recognize that God doesn’t always swoop in to remove the thorns of our lives. If He doesn’t remove the painful thorns, though, He does provide sustaining grace. Paul described that grace as “sufficient.” In other words, it was adequate for the situation. He described it as “powerful” in the face of weakness. Paul went so far to say that weakness, adversity, and opposition were desired experiences that he could “delight in.” It was in the face of those difficulties, in fact, that he experienced the strength of Christ.

Indeed, weakness and adversity can be to our advantage. If we allow them to create within us a dependence on God and His grace, we will discover strength that we will not otherwise experience. In what ways do you need to express your dependence? In so doing, you will find His grace to be your strength.

Steve Kern

Taking it further

Here, John MacArther writes on God’s sufficient grace.

Here, Max Lucado also writes on God’s sufficient grace.