But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
- 1 Corinthians 15:10 NIVYou may not be everything you can be or everything you should be. You have your faults. You have your weaknesses. However, you are not alone in this regard. Everyone has faults, and everyone has weaknesses. Even the Apostle Paul had them. He said that he was “the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God,” (1 Corinthians 15:9). Given your faults and weaknesses, you don’t deserve to be chosen either.
Nevertheless, you are chosen by God for His name’s sake (1 Samuel 12:22). Despite your faults and weaknesses, God chose you to be what He wants you to be. It wasn’t up to you, and it wasn’t up to anyone else. It was up to God to determine your purpose in His kingdom. God knew Paul’s faults and weaknesses. He knew that Paul didn’t deserve to be an apostle, but He chose Paul anyway. In like manner, God chose you anyway to be His child and servant.
Therefore, God’s grace is upon you to do the work. Just as God’s grace was not without effect in the case of Paul, it is not without effect in your case. Indeed, just as God’s grace enabled Paul to work hard despite suffering, so God’s grace enables you to work hard at what you are called to do.
It would be a big mistake to give in to pride, thinking your skills and accomplishments are yours alone. It’s not you. It’s God’s grace upon you. You may not always realize it or sense it, but there is an anointing of God upon you. The Spirit of God helps you, sustains you, and empowers you every step of the way.
By John Huisman, Friend of Bible League International
