Friday, September 17, 2010

Apostle Paul's Playbook

APOSTLE PAUL’S PLAYBOOK
1Corinthians 15:9-10
The Message: “I don’t deserve to be included in the inner circle, as you well know, having spent all those years trying my best to stamp God’s church right out of existence. But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I’m not about to let His grace go to waste. Haven’t I worked hard trying to do more than any of the others? Even then, my work didn’t amount to much. It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it.”

“King Agrippa said to Paul. “I don’t know why we should listen to a flip-flopper. First you persecuted those who followed Jesus, and now your preaching is passionate about Him—even including the Gentiles!” (Acts 26 4-23).

HUMILITY: “Thank you for hearing my justification, O King. It is true that I’m a changed man today, from how I behaved so dreadfully before. It’s all God’s work in me, and by His grace—that was sufficient for saving a sinner like me, I offer it to everyone as proof—adequate for saving them!

OBLIGATION: “I never lose sight of how far this grace has brought me, and my gratitude for salvation from my former life never fades. My urgency to praise the Lord in front of witnesses is my privilege of serving a most awesome God. I gladly endure turmoil and heartache of travel to spread His Word far and wide.

DEPENDENCE: “By the grace of God I am what I am—not earned from my instruction and achieving the position of Pharisee—but totally dependent on God for everything. My goodness is like dirt compared to the riches of God’s abundant faithfulness! Oh that you see a large Jesus and a tiny Paul when looking at me. (Acts 26:5, Philippians 3:8).

CONFIDENCE: “I am as certain as I know that I’m standing here before you that Jesus is real, and alive. Standing at God’s right hand in heaven, He’s in charge, and worthy of all honor, glory, and praise. And He WILL come back!”

Can you see Paul’s resolve? This is how all God’s kids are being conformed. (See previous devotions Fellowship Buddies, Amazing Promise, Spiritual Ears, and Chiseling Grace.) Can you see yourself in Paul yet? What does sanctification mean to you?

Take Home Nugget

Paul’s playbook offers us simple ways to copy his attitude: Humility, Obligation, Dependence, Confidence. Let’s praise God for all He has done for us, and get busy working for His kingdom. Let’s not let His grace—poured out in our lives—be wasted as unproductive, or worse, worthless.

When all you have is God, you have all that you’ll ever need.

J.D. Griffith
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