We are taking a bit of Lenten quiet on Mondays here until Easter. I’m posting a verse, a devotion I wrote for my church’s Lenten booklet and a prayer. Peace be with you, lovely friends…
But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me – and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed. (1 Corinthians 15:10)
I don’t know about you, but when things are going well for me, I often credit myself and my own efforts and forget all about God. I love this verse because it reminds me that God’s abundant and ever-flowing grace is behind every good and positive thing we do and receive. All of our accomplishments, successes and even “good deeds” are the result of God’s blessings and His grace – we can’t take credit for any of it. It’s not simply my good work; it’s the power of God working through me.
I appreciate this verse, too, because it seems like Paul might struggle with this concept of grace a bit. I see him wrestling here, wanting to take credit, reminding us that he has “worked harder than any of the other apostles,” yet in the next breath, acknowledging to both himself and us that he cannot, in fact, pat himself on the back. All the praise goes to God alone. The next time we feel smugly satisfied about a job well-done, let’s stop for a moment of thanksgiving to give credit where credit is due: to God.
Lord, You know my prideful tendency to want to pat myself on the back. Give me a humble spirit, Lord, so that I will praise only You. Amen.
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These thoughts went along beautifully with the verse I read just moments ago…”And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” (1 Peter 5:4). May all we do here be with this in mind. Trading in any temporary recognition here for that which will last eternally. May all we do be for His renown. Easy to say but hard to do with our human tendencies. Grateful that you put a searchlight on it!
We can’t take credit for it—that’s sometimes hard when we *think* we did it ourselves. The wrestling for me comes in my head–did God really do it or did I? Such a silly question but the flesh still asks it. I pray to believe better.
I love that prayer, Lisa: Lord, help me believe better.
Yep, He does the work in us. I’m still learning this truth.
Michelle,
Great verse and reminder…it is all by grace 🙂 Happy Monday to you 🙂
Without Him we can do nothing, but with Him, all things are possible! Thanks for the great post & for hosting & God bless!
When things are going well for me, I often think… when is the next bad thing going to happen or someone must have made a mistake. 😉
I go down that road, too, Sandy!
Wonderful reminder to give God the glory in all we do. 🙂
Reminds me of that verse in John 3 — He must increase, and I must decrease.
Michelle, this is the line from that verse that stuck out to me: “So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.”
I was caught up short thinking about what that meant to me. All too often I find myself in the *comparison trap* – and finding myself jealous of other women’s ministries – their blog has more followers or comments, they have speaking engagements, they talk on the radio, they’ve written books. Underneath all that is the burning question, “Why not me??” How shallow and human. I am so glad that even Peter and John fell prey to this insidious need for “one upmanship.” Even they, in the very presence of Jesus Himself, were prone to it.
But, Paul has hit on what’s THE most important thing. It matters not who does the speaking, the ONLY thing that matters is that the gospel is spread.
GOD BLESS!
I tend to swing from this prideful martyrdom to another place of despair (I can’t work hard enough to get it right!) My sis used to say her epitaph would read: She tried really hard. What a discouraging thought! I told my kid this morning to stop trying to follow the rules he thinks God has for him. The relief was visible on his frame, lifting. I said, it’s all a gift, the power to live life like Jesus — we focus on being thankful and the rule-following comes easier. It’s just so not up to us.
Feeling pretty sorry for myself lately – bad, boohoo, poor me kind of stuff. And yet when I read how God has poured out his favor on me and how he has given to me and will continue to give his favor and love and inspiration, I feel that no matter how hard my life and work are, I need to be grateful for the favor.
m.
this: “The next time we feel smugly satisfied about a job well-done, let’s stop for a moment of thanksgiving to give credit where credit is due: to God.” yes.
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