I came across a verse in the Bible this week that has really strengthened me and became a new personal favorite.
By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 1 Cor 15:10
As I’ve walked with God this week and He’s allowed me to consider this example, I’m seeing that it is exactly how I want to live. When Paul shared his experience with God, he wasn’t hiding behind any excuses or explanations about his former or present life. He gave God all the glory.
After experiencing God’s love for himself, Paul decided he would respond by working his absolute hardest to show his gratitude by sharing God’s love with people who crossed paths with him. It wasn’t an easy thing to do. 2 Corinthians 11 gives an overview of what he went through before eventually being beheaded for his faith and obedience to God.
I appreciate that Paul doesn’t play the humble card when he makes an honest assessment and says that he “labored even more than all of them.” He felt that he had given his best compared to others, so he stated it plainly. But he finishes his thought by effectively saying, “You know what, I may have tried really hard, but my effort didn’t make any difference. It’s only by the grace of God that I was able to do anything. He gave me the work to do, and he gave me the energy to do it.”
Paul was basically saying that God was 100% responsible for his entire life. When others looked at his life, they may have evaluated it as some good, some bad, and some ugly. But Paul only saw and pointed to the grace of God. He took zero responsibility for all the amazing things that happened as He walked with God, and he refused to look back and be condemned by himself or others for the blatant failures of his past and was determined to look ahead for what lay ahead now that he was living each day with Christ. (See Phil 3:13-14)
Behind the Lyrics:
This song came together last Saturday. I woke up with the verse on my heart and while Pauline read her Bible beside me, I jotted down the lyrics.
A day after I wrote the song, two brothers of mine (one in Colorado, and another in California) used the exact same phrase written in the chorus when they were expressing the relationship God wants us to have with Him. So when you hear the chorus, “But by His endless grace through faith alone, we can hold our Father’s hand” know that those words and this entire song were inspired and confirmed by the Holy Spirit! Praise God!
Lyrics:
Yea it’s only by the grace of God
That I am who I am (1 Cor 15:10)
And its only by His righteous Son
Born down in Bethlehem (Matt 2:1)
See He came on down
He lived and died
So that we could have this life (Heb 2:14-18)
And He rose again
Ascended high
All God and all Man (Click to read about how Jesus is both God and Man)
And I know
It might seem hard
To try and understand
But by His endless grace through faith alone (Eph 2:8)
We can hold our Father’s hand
So you want this life
First count the costs
Don’t start and then turn back.(Luke 9:62)
And when you slip and fall,
Don’t give up yet
Turn to Him and repent (1 John 1:9)
You see I can sing today
Cuz I fell too,
But little did I know
That through my failure and my hopelessness
That His love would prove true (Click to read 2 short chapters titled “The Purpose of Failure”)
And so I shout with joy!
Cuz I know I’ve
Been saved by His blood (1 Peter 1:18-19)
And I live each day
Confident that I
Am surrounded by in His love (Is 49:16)
And I know
It might seem hard
To try and understand
But by His endless grace through faith alone (Eph 2:8)
We can hold our Father’s hand
Let’s find a quiet place and seek the Lord
In secret, He is found. (1 Cor 2:9)
And when we read His Word,
First, ask for grace
And His grace will abound (2 Cor 9:8)
The Holy Spirit comes and lights the way
Every moment of the day. (John 14:26)
All we have to do is trust in Him
We’ll find rest in Him today. (Heb 11:6)
And I know
It might seem hard
To try and understand
But by His endless grace through faith alone (Eph 2:8)
We can hold our Father’s hand
Things that encouraged me this week:
1 Corinthians 2
Romans 10:17
“Let’s go!” John 14:31
The book below was recommended to Pauline and me by our Canadian, birthday twin, Megs!
I’ve only finished the first few pages, but those pages really spoke to my heart and I really want to encourage anyone who gets this far down the page to download the PDF and check out it out.
The Person and the Work of the Holy Spirit
“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” – Charles Spurgeon
