Written ~ 07-14-2023
1 Corinthians 15:10
“But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out His special favor on me – and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles, yet it was not I but God who was working through me by His Grace.”
The sentence right before this says,
“In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.” (vs. 9b)
Paul is letting us know that though he was touched by God to do the things he’s done for the Kingdom of God, he had a past. That past required him to work harder to get the message of Jesus Christ out to the people. Through God’s help he had to gain the trust of people who only knew him as the man who imprisoned and even killed believers. The Paul we know has contributed greatly to the New Testament, all the letters compiled there are so full of instruction, correction, encouragement, and wisdom that they are easily some of my favorite books of the Bible. But to get to that point – Paul had to work very hard to overcome his past.
Many of us may have a past that we are not proud of, probably nothing as drastic as what Paul did… but none the less it may have caused some insecurity when God calls us to serve Him. But what may happen is, we may just work harder, dig in a little deeper, seek God’s Grace and Mercy with a little more fervor. We may have something to prove even if it’s to ourselves, that God can and will use anyone who calls on Him. Even those of us with a “Past!”
I love, in our verse for today, how Paul says,
“… it is all because God poured out His special favor on me and not without results.”
When we seek the LORD with all our hearts, minds, and souls, aren’t we also asking for God to pour out His favor on us? I believe so, YES. The Holy Spirit waits for us to ask for His help- to be used for God’s Kingdom in a special way. That may look quite different for each of us, but it doesn’t mean that one way is “less than” another way. God has given each of us a very specific and special purpose to further His Kingdom.
We see here in our verse today that God had a very special purpose for Paul. He was a wonderful teacher, preacher, writer and we reap the benefits of that purpose nearly 2000 years later. How awesome is that!
We shouldn’t limit the LORD, if we struggle with things we’ve done in the past, if we continue to let personality limitations hold us back, we are missing out on some awesome works that God wants to do through us! If Paul can overcome the great persecution he did on Christians, we can overcome those things we hide behind.
We tell ourselves……
“Oh, I can’t do that, because….” Don’t you see? We are limiting the LORD in that one word – “because.”
In our verse, it continues…
“… yet it was not I but God who was working through me by His grace.”
What if Paul said to the LORD, “Oh, I can’t do that because I imprisoned believers and they hate me!” “Oh, I can’t do that because I wasn’t one of the 12 disciples.”
In verse 9, it shows us how hard Paul was on himself…
~BUT GOD~
We probably have too many examples in the Scriptures where we come across an impossibility. But then!! What words are found repeatedly?
~BUT GOD~
We can attach any imperfection, any personality limitation, any lack of confidence onto ourselves… but the thing we must never omit is the…
~BUT GOD~
I did “this” in the past, BUT GOD has now done “this.”
I’m just too shy to do “that,” BUT GOD used me mightily despite it.
I’m too fearful to try, BUT GOD has given me His strength.
I’m not smart enough, BUT GOD gave me His wisdom.
Oh, the list can go on and on!!
“God poured out His special favor on me – and not without results…”
God’s favor will be poured out on anyone who seeks Him. If we are trusting in the LORD wholeheartedly – the results, the evidence of God working through us, will be ASTOUNDING!
When we lift the limitations, we have placed on ourselves, God can do miraculous things through us!
Isn’t it Paul who said?
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
Paul needed the LORD’s strength to overcome his past. He used the LORD’s strength to gain immeasurable favor from God! We have that same strength to tap into! It’s not just for Paul or the other Apostles. We can have the favor of God poured out on us. He can use any one of us to further His Kingdom. We just need to be willing participants and let go of our limitations.
Thank you, God, for pouring out your favor on me. Continue to use me in the areas that I feel are my limitations, continue to use me in the areas I feel are my strengths. I want the wisdom and the abundance of knowledge poured out by the Holy Spirit so I might be an encouragement to other believers.
~AMEN~