Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God. For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed… As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum. (Romans 15:17-19)
Paul was a man on a mission! He was a person who seemed to have an endless supply of motivation and talent. He laid out the groundwork for Christianity to spread across the entire Roman Empire. He’s been considered one of the most influential people in history. Yet, when Paul talked about everything he accomplished, he didn’t credit it to his education, hard work, or innovation, but simply Jesus working through him.
In today’s section, Paul was replaying the last twenty years of ministry and thinking about how God had exceeded his expectations, as he got to preach the gospel and plant churches from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum. That’s from southern Palestine, up through Syria, across Turkey, down through Greece, and then up in to Albania, without flying coach or access to the world wide web. Mind you this was only one out of his three missionary journeys! And Paul contributed it all to “the grace given me by God” and “what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed” (15:16, 18). Paul really believed that his union with risen Jesus is what caused him to accomplish all that he did.
So we see that the people who do the most for God, are those who depend the most on God. When you work from grace you serve out of delight, rather than duty. You live for God motivated by gratitude, instead of guilt. God wants us to have a newfound appreciation for our unearned calling, favor, power, opportunities, and giftings he constantly gives us. Embracing his underserved grace and union with Christ is what you need for the long haul to follow him and serve others.
Maybe you need God’s grace to help you shake off that sluggish heart you might have for God lately. Maybe you need Christ to help restore your marriage, or disciple your children. You’re gonna need God’s grace to help you keep serving, loving, and being intentional with the people he placed in your life, especially when it seems like it’s going nowhere. Paul credited every good work in his life to Jesus working through him. So that’s where the secret to his ministry must be. Jesus wants to do the same for you and with you today.