Who maketh thee to differ from another? 1 Cor. 4:7

There is but one answer: a sovereign God, in the plenitude of His amazing grace. And how the realization of this should humble us into the dust, for by nature and by practice there was no difference between us and them: "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation (manner of life) in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind" (Eph. 2:2, 3).

It was distinguishing mercy which sought us out when we were "without Christ." It was distinguishing love which quickened us into newness of life when we were "dead in trespasses and sins." Thus we have no cause for boasting and no ground for self-complacency. Rather must we walk softly and penitently before Him who has saved us from ourselves.

~ Arthur Pink, “The Life Of Elijah”