Bible Reading: Proverbs 9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-32
Memory verse: “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-32 (KJV)
The story of Paul’s repentance and acceptance into the body of Christ is one that sticks so strongly in my heart. It is one that goes to show that God looks beyond you and what you are doing at the moment. He looks at you and what He has deposited in you and the possibilities that can come out from you. All God wants is for you to discover your calling for which He made you for and walk in it.
God said in Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT), “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” No man on earth came by accident. God, the maker and creator, planned our coming even when it looks like the coming of a baby was an accident to some parents. No man came by accident! God has a purpose for the baby from the womb!
Paul’s existence, when he was still Saul, seems like a curse to Christians as he persecuted them everywhere legally. He took permissions from the authorities of the day to carry out his wicked acts. But the grace of God located him and brought him to his real self. That’s why he did more for the kingdom of God than he did for those of darkness when he was still there. Grace located him that he could say in 1 Corinthians 15:10 (KJV) “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
Grace is God’s presence and love through Jesus Christ given to us by the Holy Spirit, imparting to believers God’s mercy, forgiveness and the power to do the will of God. Jesus had to come down to earth to win the soul of Saul, now Paul, because he saw the possibilities in him. If only you will see the possibilities God has put in that unbeliever around you and what he will do for the kingdom you will see the reason why you must not relent in your soul winning mandate like Jesus.
Prayer: Father, in the name of Jesus, open my eyes and cause me to see people the way You see them.
Bro. Worthmore Aghanenu