Grace-Powered Labor

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)

Paul's life was marked by relentless labor—preaching, discipling, planting churches, and writing Scripture. Yet, in all his toil, he makes an astonishing confession: "yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."

His tireless efforts were not the product of personal resolve or natural strength. Rather, they were the outcome of divine grace working in and through him. The same grace that transformed a persecutor of the church into an apostle fueled his ministry. His testimony was not one of self-reliance but of yielded dependence, trusting God's grace to empower every step of his journey.

This same principle applies to us. The Christian life is not about striving in our own effort, but about receiving and resting in God's provision. We do not labor to prove ourselves, to earn favor, or to sustain our calling. We labor because His grace is actively at work in us. When we embrace the truth that it is "not I, but Christ", our lives bear fruit that could never come from our own efforts.

Think of a windmill standing tall in an open field. Its blades do not turn through self-generated effort, nor does it anxiously strain to produce motion. Instead, it yields to the unseen force of the wind, allowing the power of the breeze to accomplish what it never could on its own. In the same way, when we cease from self-reliance and yield to the indwelling life of Christ, His grace moves through us, producing both spiritual growth and good works.

Reflection Questions

• Are you relying on your own efforts to serve God, or are you yielding to His grace to work in and through you?

• What areas of your life reflect "yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me"?

• How does acknowledging God as the source of your labor bring rest and confidence to your service?

Prayer

Father, I rejoice in Your grace that is actively at work in me. You have already supplied everything I need for the life You have called me to live. I trust You to express Your life through me, knowing that every good work is the result of Your grace, not my effort. Thank You that I do not labor alone but in the strength of Christ within me. May all that is accomplished through my life be a testimony to Your sufficiency and not my striving. In Jesus' name, amen.

📖 Devotional from Day by Day by Grace by Bob Hoekstra.
📸 Photo credit: Unsplash