It Starts Small

Our lives are steered by the environment we live in, the decisions we make, and other things such as education, income, and influence. The greatest and most powerful influence of our lives is the transforming grace of God. This is His kindness toward us regardless of our worthiness and in spite of what we really deserve.

God’s will if for all of us believer to be conformed to the likeness of His Son. It is His grace that is responsible for our rebirth and from that point it directs, moves, and influences to be increasingly become like Christ.

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬

We can testify with Paul it is the grace of God we are who we are.

Our discipleship journey and our lives can be a powerful example of God’s transforming grace.

“But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬

In Philippians 3, Paul describes how he one depended upon his own good works, nature, and conduct to gain acceptance before God and he did not originally understand there was only one way to be made acceptable in God’s sight: by His grace.

Paul continued by explaining his encounter with Christ changed Him.

“But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Paul recognized that all his titles and achievements had no spiritual value. We need to recognized and accept in our own lives that we will never gain eternity through anything we do or who we are. It’s by grace and grace alone we are saved.

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift —  not from works, so that no one can boast.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬

It was through God’s grace, Paul’s thoughts had begun to change. He learned that everything he once counted as valuable was actually worthless. Paul had come face-to-face with Jesus on that road to Damascus. When Paul heard the voice of God speaking, he dropped to his knees in adoration and surrender.

Is the same true for your life? Have you encountered Jesus face-to-face and completely surrendered your life? There is no sure way of living or change for your life until you do.