The least if these

I Corinthians 15
9For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve 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 to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

"I am the least"...sometimes, maybe lots of times I feel like this! Paul was stating that because he had persecuted the church, even killed Christians, before his conversion that he felt he was at the bottom of the totem pole concerning his ranking as an apostle.

However, then he states, but "by their Grace of God"...and thus declared he could move on, he could be an  effective Christian, because of God's grace! Wow! This man killed people! I have never done that! Yet, he believes he can move on and be effective knowing he had murdered Christians!

So, Paul, before his conversion had committed huge sins. But God...He doesn't care how big, or little, the sin is. He just wants us to be free...forgiven. So, He sent His son to die on the cross for our sins!  No sin is too big for a God who is even bigger!

Father, I pray that the next time I feel like the least of these, that I am beating myself up for something I have done or forgotten to do, that I look to you and see your love and forgiveness. That I forgive myself and start over again. That I do the same for others. It is in Jesus saving name I pray. Amen.