Joel M Bradshaw

9For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain…–1 Corinthians 15

Popeye the Sailor Man many years ago made the phrase ‘I yam what I am and dat’s what I yam!” a popular one. But 2000 years earlier, the Apostle Paul said it first.

Paul was a man with a past he was not proud of. And God showed His grace to Paul and gave Paul’s life new purpose and meaning. God’s grace transformed Paul’s messy and broken story for God’s glory.

Remember grace is a gift to the undeserving. If any of us deserved it we wouldn’t need Jesus to die on the cross. Our sin wouldn’t really be bad news, and we would just wait for God to provide the answer. But since we don’t deserve God’s grace it makes God’s sovereign choice to give it all the more amazing. It is by that very grace and through faith we are saved. It’s not of ourselves, but a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).

So although Paul wasn’t a fan of his past, he was grateful for how God had worked in his life. God had transformed Paul to be exactly what He planned and wanted. And Paul’s “Popeye” moment confirmed it. Paul was exactly who God had planned him to be.

God’s grace is never in vain. His choice of Paul wasn’t a mistake. His work in Paul’s life had a purpose and a goal. It’s the same for you, my friend. So your past is messy. So your present needs a lot of intentionality and discipline. God chose you for a reason. He loves you and has given you His grace. His plan is unfolding in your life and He expects you to trust Him and to follow His lead.

Like Popeye and Paul, we can pause and proclaim “I am what I am!” God is at work in our stories for His glory!–JMB