Day 22: By Grace Today's reading is drawn from 1 Corinthians 5:9-11. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of a chapter about resurrection, Paul gets personal. This passage offers wonderful insights into the work of grace in this grand apostle's life. In Paul's words, I see what I call his credo, his affirmation of belief. He underscores three simple ideas. How clearly they reflect and reaffirm the truth about God's grace! First, God does what He does by His grace. Paul deserved judgment of the severest kind. Instead, God gave him grace. Paul comments that he is "the least of all the apostles. . . . I'm not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God's church" (1 Cor. 15:9). This is not false humility; this is truth. Paul fully recognized that he had been totally devoid of a spiritual life. He had no interest in the true things of God but aggressively worked against the Christian cause right up until the Lord appeared to him and struck him blind (Acts 9:1-19). Second, each of us is what we are by God's grace. Notice Paul's words: "But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me" (1 Cor. 15:10). In a world of high-powered self-achievement and self-help books and personal accomplishments and selfish kingdom building, God's grace gives a new message. How many people who reach the pinnacle of success and are interviewed in the Wall Street Journal say, "I am what I am by the grace of God"? We are impressed with men's and women's achievements, but Paul says, "Don't be impressed by that. Go back to the grace of God. That's our only hope." Third, we should let others be what they are by God's grace. The apostle says, "It makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message" (1 Cor. 15:11). Paul confronted error when necessary for the sake of the gospel, but he did not set himself up as a judge of other Christians' preaching and ministry, and he didn't try to force all believers into the same mold. Jesus spoke of an abundant life characterized by the freedom He provides by His grace. Many people seem determined to find the one flaw or failure that marks our lives and then point it out and drill at it. Many—or even most—Christians think that God operates in the same way. But why do we think that way when God poured out all of His wrath on His Son? God was satisfied with Jesus' death for sin, and if you find yourself in the Son by faith, remember this: He is satisfied with you. You will always have men and women in your life who will give you their list to live up to. They will prod you with guilt until you are driven mad. But not God. We are what we are by the grace of God. If we really getting ahold of this, we will let others be what they are by the grace of God. [call out text: God was satisfied with Jesus' death for sin, and if you find yourself in the Son by faith, He is satisfied with you.] | 
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