1 Corinthians 15:9-11
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy 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 was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy 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 was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Paul did not consider himself great, just an unworthy apostle because he so persecuted followers of Christ before God blinded him so he could see. This humility was based on knowing the depths of God’s grace and mercy to an undeserving sinner. That grace, however, called him to serve and be as he was made to be and do for His glory. And he then put all effort into hard labor for the gospel’s sake; not to earn or keep God’s favor or salvation, but loving the One who first so loved him out of the world. He sums it up with pointing to the preaching of the words of life, not the particular messenger (apostle) who obeys and God subsequently uses.
No comments:
Post a Comment