Unwrapping GraceSample

Servants by Grace

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. - Ephesians 3:7

In Ephesians 3:2 the Apostle Paul portrayed himself as a “manager” of God’s grace. Paul’s example inspired us to see our work in a similar vein. As we lead God’s people in worship, we are also “managing” the grace of God entrusted to us.

A few verses later, Paul makes a different connection between his work and God’s grace. In Ephesians 3:7 Paul “became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace.” Grace is not only the core message of Paul’s work. It is also the means by which he received this work. He became a “servant” of the gospel by grace.

I expect there are times when you feel similarly about your work, times when you just cannot believe you are paid to lead people in worship. It can be such an honor and such a joy. 

And then there are other times, times when you’re being criticized, times when the people you lead seem half-asleep, times when your worship team just can’t get it together, times when you work so hard for what seems like such small results. In times like these, it can be hard to feel as if your work is a gift of God’s grace. Believe me, I know all about this! Even in especially discouraging times, we need to step back and see our work as a gift of grace. We can thank God for the opportunity to serve him even when our service seems unfruitful or unappreciated.

The fact that we work by God’s grace does not mean we don’t work hard. One of my favorite Bible passages comes in 1 Corinthians 15. There, Paul is talking about his apostolic ministry. He says in verse 10, “But 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.” Paul is an apostle because of God’s grace. And because of this grace, Paul worked harder than all the other apostles. Yet, he says, it was God’s grace at work in him. 

We who work for God’s glory live in this apparent paradox. We work by God’s grace, and we work very hard. By grace, yes, but with considerable personal effort, as well. Grace does not always make things easy. In fact, sometimes God’s grace leads us into work that is extremely difficult. 

The fact that you are a worship leader because of God’s grace not only gives you strength in hard times, but it also keeps you from undue pride when things are going great. When you have worked hard on a worship set and your people truly invest in worship, it is right to feel good about a job well done. The reminder of God’s grace, however, will keep you from taking too much credit or from putting too much stock in the praise of people. You will know that you are managing well the grace given to you and that even this management is a result of God’s grace in your life. 

Personal Questions:

When you tell the story of how you became a worship leader, to what extent does God’s grace figure in your story? 

Do you sense that you are in the role you are in because of God’s grace? If so, what difference does this make? If not, why not? 

Questions Relevant to Your Worship Leadership:

What helps you to be resilient as a worship leader in times of criticism or conflict? 

How would the people you lead in worship come to know that they also are servants of God because of his grace? 

Prayer: 

Gracious God, thank you for your grace at work in my life. Thank you for the work you have given me to do. I am in this role, not just because of my talent or hard work, but solely because of your grace in my life. 

May your grace sustain me in times of discouragement or exhaustion.

May your grace keep me humble in times of success and adulation.

May your grace flow through me as I work with my team and as I lead your people. 

Gracious God, thank you for your grace at work in my life, and through me in the lives of those I serve by your grace. Amen.