"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with
me" (1 Corinthians 15:10)
A personal resolve and strong determination to overcome is an essential requirement for the believer who wants to
succeed in the Christian faith. That is why the word of God says it is only those who
are willing and obedient that shall eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19). This is notwithstanding the fact that God's grace
and mercy have pre-qualified us all to enjoy God's blessings and provisions.
The grace of God and His enduring mercy are made available to us chiefly to enable the individual do that which is needful.
In First Corinthians 15:10, the Apostle Paul testified that even though it was the grace of God that positioned him and made him what he was, that grace bestowed upon him was not in vain because he laboured more
abundantly than all else through that same grace of God which was with him. His life teaches us that grace enables and it is never
an excuse to condone slothfulness.
In the same way, the purpose of God’s mercy that is extended to us is to properly position us to take the right action. A good
illustration is the deliverance of Lot and his family from the destruction that came upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Whereas God magnified His mercy on Lot's family, their responsibilities it was to run to safety without looking back. Unfortunately, Lot's wife was not so determined to do her part
of the bargain. And even though she received God's great mercy, she still perished in the destruction of Sodom because she was unwilling to do her part. Thus her life demonstrates to us that a man could receive mercy and still perish if he fails to do the needful.
Beloved, let it be clear to you that God's grace and mercy are not meant to and cannot substitute for the efforts we are
supposed to contribute to God's wonderful programme for our lives. It was written of Jesus Christ that He was full of grace and truth (John 1:14). But we all can testify to His strong resolve, commitment and labour to walk in that truth. His legacy did not lay in the fact that He was full of grace; rather, the legacy He left us is His good works done in truth.
me" (1 Corinthians 15:10)
A personal resolve and strong determination to overcome is an essential requirement for the believer who wants to
succeed in the Christian faith. That is why the word of God says it is only those who
are willing and obedient that shall eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19). This is notwithstanding the fact that God's grace
and mercy have pre-qualified us all to enjoy God's blessings and provisions.
The grace of God and His enduring mercy are made available to us chiefly to enable the individual do that which is needful.
In First Corinthians 15:10, the Apostle Paul testified that even though it was the grace of God that positioned him and made him what he was, that grace bestowed upon him was not in vain because he laboured more
abundantly than all else through that same grace of God which was with him. His life teaches us that grace enables and it is never
an excuse to condone slothfulness.
In the same way, the purpose of God’s mercy that is extended to us is to properly position us to take the right action. A good
illustration is the deliverance of Lot and his family from the destruction that came upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Whereas God magnified His mercy on Lot's family, their responsibilities it was to run to safety without looking back. Unfortunately, Lot's wife was not so determined to do her part
of the bargain. And even though she received God's great mercy, she still perished in the destruction of Sodom because she was unwilling to do her part. Thus her life demonstrates to us that a man could receive mercy and still perish if he fails to do the needful.
Beloved, let it be clear to you that God's grace and mercy are not meant to and cannot substitute for the efforts we are
supposed to contribute to God's wonderful programme for our lives. It was written of Jesus Christ that He was full of grace and truth (John 1:14). But we all can testify to His strong resolve, commitment and labour to walk in that truth. His legacy did not lay in the fact that He was full of grace; rather, the legacy He left us is His good works done in truth.
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