Not ours but his

DEVOTION

ROMANS

NOT OURS BUT HIS

Rom 1:5-6

5 Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

NIV

Oh how sweet the sound, through Him and for His name’s sake. We have to ask ourselves, do we often consider that which we have receive as a benefit for us, a talent or ability as something we should use for the advantage of our own being, to be used to advance our position in society or improve our living conditions, or increase our financial security. Here we see it was not of Paul’s doing, but rather through Him, through Jesus, and for Jesus that Paul received grace and apostleship. It was not of Paul nor was it for Paul.  The Greek word used here for grace is of great importance, it is the accusative case of ‘charis’, which is ‘charin’ which insists the divine influence upon his heart and how that is reflected in his life is subject to, or on account of or due to Christ. In other words the reason Paul received the divine influence on his heart, was for Christ’s sake, not for his own sake. And this imparting of divine influence was accompanied by apostleship, or a commission, a special calling for a special task for the sake of the kingdom, not for Paul himself. This commission was to call people from among all the gentiles. Now, although most, if not all, of the people we know, as well as ourselves have not been commissioned to call people, such as an evangelist would,  but we know we have been called or commissioned to be a witness.  

Acts 1:7-8    7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

NIV

Some would say Jesus said that only to his disciples, or to include the whole of the one hundred and twenty or so that were in that upper room. But the Holy Spirit did not come to just those people in those days. The Holy Spirit has been poured out upon all people who accept Jesus. We too have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and have the evidences thereof. So then we all have received this power to be a witness for Jesus. And, of course we have to ask in this case, do we testify to bring attention to ourselves, or do we witness of God’s work in our life to bring attention to Him. Do we tell of His work for His names sake? Do we always give Him the glory? When God influences our heart do we reflect Him to the world so He will be the center of peoples focus? We pray this is the result of our life. People will see the Lord, not us. Whatever we have or do is a result of God’s grace and it is for His sake, not ours.