Everything is clicking into place for next weekend’s A Christian Christmas Carol play, and staff and volunteers have been working like crazy this week on building sets, sewing costumes, designing handouts, and preparing for our guests (over two hundred registered already!).
We are but conduits of the grace of God:
1 Corinthians 15:10-11 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon 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. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
If you do a good job, it’s the grace of God. If someone is saved by your influence, it’s the grace of God.
God’s grace is given to you at salvation, but it goes beyond that, too. It takes God’s grace to do anything. Anything!
So, this is a week of preparation for the Christmas play, and it’s all about God’s grace. He will be the one to bring the increase, or else we would be able to stand back and say, “See what we have done? I should write a book: How I Saved Temecula.”
No. That would never do. Where’s God in that?
So there are two groups of people here:
1. Those who’ve worked a LOT. To you, God says, ” Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” We labor for God. All the outreach, time on sets, rehearsals, memorization—it’s all for God.
2. Those who’ve not worked a lot. To you, God says, “His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all:” Yes, God’s grace. Of course! But Paul had a job to do, too. Maybe your role in the play this week will be helping Bro. Christian paint some sets, build some props, or set up the platform. Maybe your role will be outreach, or prayer, or any other ways to be involved. As a member of the body, it shouldn’t be nothing; we know that much!
This is our focus this week. 1 Corinthians 9:23, “And this I do for the gospel’s sake.” –Pastor Ryan