APRIL 21, 2024
Topic: LABOUR WITH GRACE
Text: 1 Cor. 15:9-10
Memory Verse: “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 (NKJV)
John Chrysostom, the Archbishop of Constantinople who died in 407 A.D once said, “A man’s readiness and commitment are not enough if he doesn’t enjoy help from above as well; equally, help from above is of no benefit unless there is also commitment and readiness on our part”. Indicating that grace is not enough without a commitment from you, so as not to receive Grace in vain (wasted, unproductive and fruitless).
Paul did not labour in order to receive grace, but he received grace so that he might labour. Grace is NOT “spiritual inertia” – meaning you have nothing else to do, instead it depicts it is no longer you doing it, but God working in and through you.
The scripture of consideration today points to the source of Paul’s exploits and works in life and his ministry. Paul was alluding to all the works he did as being fueled and powered by the grace of God. The fruitfulness, results and exploits that could possibly be credited to his life and ministry are all traced to God’s grace upon and within him.
From the texts, the four detailed clues to his exploits are; his life had undergone complete transformation by the grace of God (vs.9), God’s grace toward him was not fruitless, he laboured more abundantly than they all and all was not credited to his labour, but the grace of God. Evidently, Paul’s message and writings were not generated from his intellect or will (Rom. 12:3) but were grace-generated and grace-based.
Today, people labour with their physical strength, efforts, intellectual skills and prowess, yet the best they become is a frustrated version of themselves. God wants us to rely on and depend solely on His enabling grace for every of our life’s endeavours. All life’s endeavours are not meant to be something we go out and do for God; instead, it is meant to be something we do with God through His enabling grace. Receiving and depending on God’s grace is daily activity and not just a one-time commodity.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to rely and solely depend on your enabling grace for every of my life’s endeavor, Amen.