For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But 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 Corinthians 15:9–10 NAS95)
Cooperation and communion describe Paul’s life with God. As Gordon Fee indicates, Paul was a pray-er before he was a missioner. Prayer permeates all that Paul does. For Paul, grace speaks to empowerment, not just forgiveness, which points to his awareness of God’s presence and activity in and through his life. Thus, Paul’s prayers included listening and apprehending God’s leading in his life. Prayer didn’t just concern Paul’s needs, but rather the activity that he and God were doing together. So the grace of God, empowerment, radiates resurrection life through Paul, but this life draws from a deep and conscious connection with his Redeemer.
So this cooperation with God has deep roots in Paul’s life. Prayer, nor empowerment, speak sufficiently to Paul’s motivation. Yet both prayer and empowerment directly result from Paul’s confidence in and experience of God’s love. His comment recognizing that he by the grace of God is who he is, shows a radical reception of unmeasurable love enflaming his heart. Paul can rejoice in ecstasy and move out in mission and ministry toward others because of the rich quality of the acceptance by God he experiences. Yes, he persecuted the church. Yet that life, touched by grace knows a love that cannot be described. Paul stands in amazement at what God did with him, transforming him from one radically and consciously opposed to Jesus, to a worshipper and follower of Him as his King. Paul, with these words, seems able to accept himself, the whole of his life, because he knows his God does. That reveals the source of Paul’s motivation and the secret power of God’s love. I long to learn it as fully as Paul did!
For Reflection:
“Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, that He might make His power known.” (Psalms 106:8 NAS95)
- How often do your conversations with God concern what He is doing in and through you?
- What struggles do you have with self-acceptance? What keeps you from embracing God’s full acceptance of you?
