Transformative Grace Spreads The Gospel
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (NASB)
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
SUMMARY
Paul emphasizes the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When Jesus resurrected, He appeared to more than five hundred people at once, then to James, to the rest of the apostles, and finally to Paul. By the grace of God, Paul became an apostle despite his past of persecuting followers of Christ. He labored harder than the other apostles to preach the gospel.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
Before Paul's encounter with Jesus, he was persecuting Christians. Paul describes himself as "untimely born" when Jesus appeared to him because he was the total opposite of an apostle at that time. As I look at the other people who had the special honor of seeing Jesus after He resurrected, Paul was the least worthy, yet out of over 500 people, he was the one who made the biggest difference in the advancement of the gospel. This shows me God's transformative power to take people so broken and use them in mighty ways. He forgives and calls people to do great things despite their sin. It is not the seemingly holy person God uses, but the unexpected one who is transformed by His grace. I think God chooses these people because this reflects the meaning of the gospel. I don't prove myself to be worthy of greatness and forgiveness, it's given by the grace of God. Verse 10 really tugged at my heart: "But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace towards me did not prove vain." It is by His grace that I am able to come out of my sinful past and help minister and serve others.
APPLICATION
As I was preparing to take on this new responsibility of leading an Oikos for the first time, I felt so unworthy and incapable. Like Paul, I was so much in my sin and rebellious towards God. If I went back in time a few years and told myself I'd be serving at church, I would have shaken my head in disbelief. "God would never pick me, He uses people who are actually devoted to Him," I'd tell myself. This passage reminded me that it is not by my works, but by God's grace I am transformed and able to serve in His ministry. By the grace of God I am what I am and I am so thankful that He has turned my life around to be used by Him.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
Your grace is inconceivable and so powerful. Lord, you never give up on me even when I fall short. You use unexpected people in powerful ways. Thank you for seeing such value in me even when I was against you. I pray that I will not fall asleep after encountering your grace, but that I will steward what you have sown into me and be fruitful to your kingdom. Please continue to mature me and reveal yourself to me in mighty ways. I pray all of this in Jesus' name, Amen.
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