I Am What I Am
(1Co. 15:9~10)
After believing in Jesus, we realize that everything we enjoy is the grace of God. Whatever happens in our life, we can give thanks to God due to the grace of God. Let us put our trust in God and give thanks to God as God is good enough to prepare the best thing for us.
1. The least one
Apostle Paul who wrote 13 books out of 27 books of the New Testament and dedicated to spreading the gospel was a great servant of God. However, he considered himself the least, not thinking he was the greatest. (1Cor. 15:9) Looking back his life as the persecutor of Christians, Paul clearly knew that he had to be dead as a sinner if the grace of God had not been given to him. We are not different from Paul. We also are the least ones and sinners who cannot live without the grace of God. However, God poured his amazing grace for us. Those who think themselves are the great can never understand this grace. Putting down pride and arrogance, we should enjoy the joy and peace of God coming to our lives.
2. I am what I am
Paul knew that he worked as the apostle thanks to the grace of God and this is why he kept the grace given to him till the end when worldly people mock him and even when people in whom he put trust turned away from him. We should also remember that we are what we are thanks to the grace of God. God called us who were sinners as the children of Him. We should never forget this grace at every moment. Remembering the grace of God, we should live by depending on that grace, not our own strength. We can make mistakes and fall down. However, our God does not have errors and mistakes and He is Almighty and perfect. Let us not be fearful. (Isa. 44:1-2)
3. God who has been with me
Paul took his responsibilities in earnest ways not to waste the grace of God. And he even confessed that his devotion and dedication were possible thanks to the grace of God. How we have been living till today is possible thanks to God. Therefore, we should be humble when we are successful and we should not be frustrated when we have failures. Samuel gave honor to God by setting the stone called Ebenezer after Israel soldiers gained victory against Philistine soldiers. (1Sa. 7:12) Ebenezer means the stone of help. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever and He will help us to guide into the path of His abundant blessings.