By His Grace

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.

—1 Corinthians 15:10 NKJV

The grace of Jesus changed Paul! It was not in vain in his life! It was an abundant grace that inspired him to believe beyond his own abilities. He knew faith was only God living in him by His grace. He had been blind, but the grace of Jesus had opened his eyes to the amazing wonder of its promise.

God does everything by His grace. He does not love us for what we do. He loves us because of who He is. We see ourselves as unworthy. He sees us with the gift of His life. He paid the ultimate price to cover the debt of our sin.  His grace is the power that inspired Paul to know that it was not through his own efforts that he could achieve anything. It was only God empowering his life.

Paul believed he was the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. Jesus had forgiven him, and He knew it in every cell of his being. He lived God’s power because grace had changed His perspective on every aspect of his life. Work was not labor. Work was incredible joy flowing through his life. Paul did not need to win God's love through what he did. He knew he was loved. Paul was not only empowered by the grace of Jesus. Grace had transformed his life.

So what is our response to the grace of Jesus? Do we truly understand that there is nothing we need to do to make God love us more?  He loved us with His life. We love Him because He loved us with no restraint. His grace is rich with mercy, but it becomes more abundant in us when we exercise faith. Ask the woman who touched the hem of His garment. Ask the woman who washed His feet with her hair. And ask yourself if His grace has inspired greater faith in your life. 

If you live by what you feel or see, ask Jesus for a divine revelation of His grace so that you can understand who He says you are. Forgiven. Clean. He sees you through the eyes of His grace. His grace is abundant in you when you know that He withheld nothing from you on Calvary. And when you are free, you have nothing to withhold from Him.

“By the grace of God,” Paul said, “I am what I am.” When His grace changes your perspective, you understand that it is only by His grace that you are free. Faith is your life, and joy is your promise. You know who you are. You are His.

© 2019 Lynn Lacher

www.lynnlacher.com/2019/07/by-his-grace.html