Contemplation #124
“ . . . his grace to me was not without effect.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
Paul knew that grace is not only a gift that is received, but that it effects change within the recipient. The grace of God in our lives works profound differences in who we are, how we live, what we say, how we treat others, how we see the world, and how we relate to God. Grace enables us to become what we could not be. As Paul says earlier in this verse, “by the grace of God I am what I am.” One way to describe the “effect of grace” is that it so thoroughly permeates our being that we become people of grace. Grace changes us into the new humanity, which is the image-of-God humanity we have always been meant to be.
Contemplation #125
“ . . . his grace to me was not without effect.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
While we can speak of the common effects of grace, there are also individual effects – where the grace of God intersects with our personal stories. Paul could talk about the way in which God’s grace had redirected his life, and rewritten the story of his life, from persecutor to evangelist. We may profitably reflect on the impact that grace has had and is having on the direction of our lives. What is different because of grace? What will be altered by the influence of divine grace? How am I being remade into a new person by the persistent work of grace?
Contemplation #126
“ . . . his grace to me was not without effect.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
The effect of grace can be associated with the purpose of God. When God gives grace it is the means to accomplishing his will. What God wills, he does; what he does, he does by grace. We could say “his work in me was not without effect” or “his purpose for me was not without results”. This is the faithfulness of God in immanent and immediate involvement in our daily lives. The gift of God’s grace is a subtle promise that his purposes are at work, and that his ends will be accomplished. Grace never lacks for effect in the same way God’s word never returns void.
“ . . . his grace to me was not without effect.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
Paul knew that grace is not only a gift that is received, but that it effects change within the recipient. The grace of God in our lives works profound differences in who we are, how we live, what we say, how we treat others, how we see the world, and how we relate to God. Grace enables us to become what we could not be. As Paul says earlier in this verse, “by the grace of God I am what I am.” One way to describe the “effect of grace” is that it so thoroughly permeates our being that we become people of grace. Grace changes us into the new humanity, which is the image-of-God humanity we have always been meant to be.
Contemplation #125
“ . . . his grace to me was not without effect.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
While we can speak of the common effects of grace, there are also individual effects – where the grace of God intersects with our personal stories. Paul could talk about the way in which God’s grace had redirected his life, and rewritten the story of his life, from persecutor to evangelist. We may profitably reflect on the impact that grace has had and is having on the direction of our lives. What is different because of grace? What will be altered by the influence of divine grace? How am I being remade into a new person by the persistent work of grace?
Contemplation #126
“ . . . his grace to me was not without effect.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
The effect of grace can be associated with the purpose of God. When God gives grace it is the means to accomplishing his will. What God wills, he does; what he does, he does by grace. We could say “his work in me was not without effect” or “his purpose for me was not without results”. This is the faithfulness of God in immanent and immediate involvement in our daily lives. The gift of God’s grace is a subtle promise that his purposes are at work, and that his ends will be accomplished. Grace never lacks for effect in the same way God’s word never returns void.
posted by Greg at 10:23 AM
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