Unique Outworkings of Grace

Hello everyone.

Hope you have all had a nice and restful weekend and you’re ready to launch out again powerfully into the new week.

Last time we considered the enablement of God’s grace as the key ingredient for accomplishment and impact in life and in ministry. We are still at Galatians 2:7-9 but in this post, we will focus on verse 9:

“But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision” Galatians 2:7-9

James, Peter and John had been disciples of Jesus Christ long before Paul came on the scene. They were already Apostles way ahead of Paul and in fact they were recognized as the top leaders in the church at Jerusalem. Paul was a “rookie” compared with those guys! Yet, after listening to Paul and Barnabas, they acknowledged God’s unique working in Paul’s life and received him as an equal.

God’s administration of grace includes a unique purpose for the lives of each of His children. Part of this involves specificity in the people He sends us to. We should note that Paul and Peter did not have different messages. It was the same message of grace they both were heralding but God was divinely guiding them to different sets of people. It’s all a part of God’s grace package. I see modern equivalents of this in the way God inspires us individually for example to reach out to different groups of people. Some Christians are interested in Youth ministry. Some others are passionate about Prisons’ ministry, while some are more inclined towards reaching out to the destitute. There are several more examples of this uniqueness and specificity of the outworking of God’s grace in each of our lives.

Peter and the other apostles were not jealous of Paul’s success because they understood this principle. There was no contention, no strife, and no competition. How I wish all believers in Christ would emulate them and be ready to rejoice in the gifts of others and their successes even when they seem to be more evident than ours. 

It’s only a proper understanding of the working of God’s grace that will produce this sort of effect. We must recognize that not only has God saved us by grace, He is also empowering us in our individual lives. By grace He has picked us for particular tasks and has equipped us to accomplish them. All of it is grace all the way! “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us…”¹

What has God placed in your heart to do? What gifts has He given to you? To whom has He sent you? When you answer those questions, remember the task He has given you, the people He is sending you to, the gifts He has bestowed upon you and the power to succeed are all from God’s abundant grace. 

Have a great week.

Note

1. Romans 12:6a

"Majesty" by Delirious?