The Right And Only Acceptable Response….

If I were to state one scripture passage that describes the proper attitude/perspective Christians are to have that sets them apart, it would be this passage in 1 Corinthians. Paul is addressing the Corinthian church. He’s stating his Apostleship. We are to work hard, not to earn anything because it’s already been given, rather out of a grateful heart to become the men and women God ordained us to be. Gratitude and humility are our response to God’s grace. That is the right and only acceptable response we are to have towards Him. Anything else is a purely self-centered attempt to earn the credit for ourselves. Notice Paul says, “not I but God Who was working through me”. When Jesus tells us we must “deny ourselves and take up the cross”, or “die to self”, this is exactly what Paul is talking about. A cup full of water leaves no room for anything else to fill it up; no wine, no sweet drink, nothing. So it is with our spiritual capacity. When we are full of ourselves, there’s no room for God’s Spirit to move in us. Gratitude and humility are the only responses God expects from us. Are you showing these in your response to God’s gift of grace? If so, your witness and purpose are being fulfilled. If not, why not? Don’t be a brand new sports car and just sit in a driveway, wasting away all the potential it was built for. Take it out on the Autobahn and let loose. Until we see the need to respond to God’s grace in the right manner, we are the greatest potential in the world locked up, a diamond still in the rough, or a beautiful flower still covered with dirt. Push through the dirt. Rise out of the rough. Unlock your potential. Humble yourself, and give thanks to the One Who made you, and placed you in His will. Gratitude and humility are the only proper responses to God’s grace. Ask Him to help you start living these out today.

10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out His special favor on me–and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by His grace. 11 So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed. 1 Corinthians 15:10-11