The Best of the Portals of Prayer

Read: 1st Corinthians 15:9-11 // Psalm 119:89-96

“By the grace of God I am what I am.”
1st Corinthians 15:10

By Grace I Am What I Am

Paul’s past haunted him, at times. The wrong has had done kept accusing him. But every time it did, he could say, “God forgives me, for Jesus sake. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, my sin is not counted against me. I am actually one of God’s saints. By grace I am what I am.” Paul most likely would have continued his opposition to the Gospel if Christ had not stopped him on the way to Damascus. But God’s grace brought this straying sinner to believe in the very Savior whom he had been opposing.
Where would we be if it were not for the grace of God? We, too, by our very nature, are straying sinners. We want to do our own thing. The Gospel of Christ seems foolishness to human reason. But by the grace of God, our sin is not counted against us. We have been rescued. By the power of Word and Sacrament, God moves us to trust in His mercy. By His grace, He will keep us in that saving faith.
Whatever we may face in life – a task in school – a choice of a new vocation – a challenging job – something new in our Congregation – we need to remember that we succeed only by the Grace of God. That grace keeps us going, gives us a goal, and guides us as we move through life.

October 28, 1994