![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Banner-MOG-701.gif\" "\\"Ministry")
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For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient\u2014<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n God gets all the credit for what is accomplished through us.<\/p>\n The word \u201cdare<\/span>\u201d is translated from talma\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto have courage or boldness, to dare.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cObedient<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek noun hupako\u0113<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of hupo<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cunder\u201d and akou\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto hear.\u201d So, literally this word means \u201cto hear under,\u201d that is, \u201csomeone who listens attentively to what is being taught and puts into practice what is heard.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul has just talked about the things that he can boast about in Christ Jesus. He does not dare, or presume, to speak of those things which Christ had done through the ministry of others. He only concerns himself with the way the Lord had used him to win the Gentiles to obedience, both through what he said and through what he did, by the messages he preached and by the miracles he performed (through the Holy Spirit).<\/p>\n Notice that Paul is not boasting about what he personally has done but what God has done through the ministry he has been called to. If he had anything to boast about personally it would be the fact that he responded to God\u2019s call, made himself available to God, and worked long and hard at the tasks that God called him to do. But Paul does not brag about what he has done, simply about what God has done through him. Paul recognizes that he has done nothing; God has done it all.<\/p>\n We could all take a lesson from Paul on this point. We tend to get puffed up about the things that we have accomplished in our ministry, not recognizing that God is the one who deserves credit for it all. One day all Christians will stand before the judgment seat of Christ:<\/p>\n For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done<\/em> <\/span>in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. <\/span>(2Corinthians 5:10<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n Our rewards will be in the form of crowns that we will receive for the good things we have done for God in this life. We will then have the opportunity to cast those crowns at His feet in recognition of the fact that He is the one deserving of the recognition, not us:<\/p>\n the twenty-four elders [representing all believers]<\/span> fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”<\/span> (Revelation 4:10-11<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n Since we will give all the credit to God someday, let\u2019s get in the habit now of giving Him all the credit for what we have accomplished. Our Christian works of service are all about Him, not about us. After all, He is worthy!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Signature1.gif\" "\\"Will\\"")
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