Abundant Life Devotional
By Eric Jinkwen

1 Corinthians 15: 9-10
“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.”

How to Maximize God’s Grace in your Life

We thank the Lord that by His grace, we have entered the second half of the year, glory be to God! What can we learn about grace from the verse above?

(1) A man is who he is and what he is by the grace of God. Whatever achievement, fulfillment and attainment in life are the products of God’s grace. Apostle Paul wrote, by the grace of God I am what I am
Paul was formerly a persecutor of the church of God. God called Him out to preach the Gospel of the kingdom. And Paul saw that as God’s grace at work in him because he did not deserve it. As you look back at the first six months, give thanks to God for His enablement.

Read also: kill the spirit of complain and murmur

(2) The grace of God does not work where there no faith in action or works. Grace must meet faith for someone to be saved. Romans 5:1 says we are saved by grace through faith. Grace must meet faith for someone to be healed and promoted.
Grace is what God did for us through Jesus Christ independent of us. Grace is the unmerited favour of God to us men. But for us to maximize grace, we need faith in action.
Faith is what we do to appropriate the grace of God, what God has provided for us. That is where many fail in the church. Many believers think that since God has already done every thing for them, they should just fold their hands and recite or claim the promises in the scriptures. No! It doesn’t work like that. You must take actions in faith for grace to work in your life. Listen to Apostle Paul, 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.”
Paul labored more abundantly than the other apostles. Yet it was in the grace of God. So, grace must meet corresponding actions in faith. Faith is not just folding our arms and claiming, no!

This is how James puts it,
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

Therefore, if you want the grace of God to work in your life in the second half of the year, put your faith into actions.
-Labour in righteousness
-Labour in the word of God every morning.
-Labour in fasting prayer to commit your steps to God.
-Labour to redefine your purpose, vision and bring out your potentials.
-Labour to pursue your calling and vocation. You must labour to excel in your vocation. Put your faith into actions and grace will speak volume in you life.

Read also: our great helper is here

Prayer Oh Lord, I tank you for your grace on my behalf. As I step out this day, the grace of God in my life shall not be in vain. I will conquer all oppositions, achieve my goals and manifest the glory of God. Amen.