I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)
We are Responsible
Did I do something good? Yes. No, not me.
Did God accomplish it? Yes.
Last week I talked about our decision to walk right in these troubled times (See Dismayed in these Difficult Times?) The Lord, Sovereign God, chose us to be born when we were and to be alive now. He chose us to go through these difficulties.
When I have fearful thoughts of hard times, sometimes it is because I focus on what I might face, what I might have to do, and forget that I can—must—rely on Him.
For nothing will be impossible with God. (Luke 1:37)
We Must Work Hard
Paul made it clear that he worked hard to fulfill the ministry God gave him.
I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)
In the present, work hard at whatever tasks the Lord gives you. Right now decide that you will work hard in the future. We are responsible for what we do.
And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. (Mark 8:34)
We have decided (if you haven’t thought this through, please do) to follow Him regardless of the apparent cost. We’ve decided to honor Him through persecution, through hard times, through whatever.
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. (1 Corinthians 9:24)
Work as hard as you can, but give God all the glory. Do your very best.
Yet not I, but God
At the same time, don’t fear that you are alone and without help.
As hard as Paul worked, he knew it was the Lord. “Yet not I, but the grace of God with me.”
After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. (Acts 21:19)
Do not Fear
When I’m dismayed about current events and the evil possibilities ahead, I too often fear, even though I’m commanded not to fear. I think my fear comes from knowing I am responsible and how weak I am. I am so afraid I will fail the Lord.
Paul says when he is weak, then he is strong. Huh?
He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)
I must work hard, and remember that it is God’s power that works in me. I’m not going to face this alone, Christ is with me.
For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. (Colossians 1:29)
Now do it.
How?
- Keep your decision top-of-mind. When you see a choice, remember your decision and do the will of God.
- Work hard. This won’t be easy, so continually work hard.
- But, thank God, while we have the responsibility to work hard, it is God within us who will make it happen. God acts through us. We are to labor hard and rely on God to accomplish the work.
- Learn to turn in reliance towards Him. It is His power, not mine, not yours, that produces the result.
Lord!
Lord, please make my choices clear. Please help me see when I have a choice of doing Your will or doing my own. Please help me always choose to follow You. Please help me look past the apparent consequences to Your will, Your pleasure, Your reward.
And help me know how weak I am, and how powerful You are. Remind me that whatever is accomplished through me is because of You, not me.
Help me turn in humility to You, relying on You to accomplish the results You want.
Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant. (2 Corinthians 3:4–6)
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us. (Ephesians 3:20)
