I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who
has given me strength to do his work. He
considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I
used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people.
But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh,
how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love
that come from Christ Jesus.
This is a trustworthy saying, and
everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God
had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his
great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they,
too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All
honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one
who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Paul reflects some grand enlightenments in this writing to
Timothy and it is difficult for me at least to not be greatly moved by his
reflections.
He first thanks God that God has given him basic strength to
do the work. I believe he is indicating
physical, emotional and spiritual strength.
This creates the assumption that the work is strenuous. I should be ready for strenuous work where I
do God's work. He continues this
thankfulness in acknowledging that the message of God is valuable and God
considers him trustworthy enough to handle it, especially since he used to be
the sharpest instrument used in its destruction. Paul's memory of how he pursued Christians,
what he had done to them, and how he spoke about his Savior are carried with
him continually. Yet, he clarifies
quickly, "God had mercy on me". God had mercy on him who was condemning His
sons and daughters. And "how generous and gracious our Lord was" that He would
even consider him. And "He filled me with faith and love", the very essence of
Himself He gave to him.
Paul then clarifies the gospel of Jesus Christ who "came into the world to save sinners" and he then
declares "I am the worst of them all". I have always been awed by that statement
from Paul, the writer of 2/3 of the New Testament. How can he be the worst? But I have come to realize that he is saying
that there is no worst and there is no better or best. We are all "them all";
we are all sinners whom Jesus Christ came to save and regardless of our
position or ministry, it is important to know and be reminded of this
fact. When I read the "I am the worst of them all" I cannot help but hurt
deeply inside as I really believe there is no one worse than myself. Who can be this corrupt?
Paul again quickly reflects upon the real message restating
that "God had mercy on me". As important as it is to know what we are, it
is doubly important to know how God has dealt with that. He has mercy on us. He has mercy on me! It doesn't say He might, or could, or one day
He will if I do this or that; it says He has mercy today, now, this very
second. Why? Because He is God and He loves us, but for
more also, Paul declares that God had a purpose for him. For him to show the worst sinners Christ so
they could realize that they could believe in Him. As Paul is celebrating upon that Amazing Grace that has taken him from the worst of sinners to saved he is then overcome with thankfulness and gratefulness that God would not settle him there but promote him and use him to show others the same! And he can't help but sings praises to God for that purpose!
There are
some real truths in this that can be summarized:
- The message of Jesus Christ is to save sinners.
- We have been the worst sinners.
- God has a purpose for us.
- We should be thankful that God trusts us with His message.
- We should use how God reached us to reach others.
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