The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in 1 Timothy 1:16,
"But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life."
I look up to Paul, as many do. He was a prolific apostle for the Lord, taking the gospel to so much of the known world and penning half of the books in our New Testaments. In this passage, however, Paul extols what the Lord can do in the life of a sinner as himself. He claims to be "the worst of sinners" as "a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man." Verse 13. He acknowledged it was for this very reason the Lord picked him for his purposes.
In his confession of being the worst of sinners, Paul demonstrates none are beyond the love and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. If the "worst of sinners" can have the grace of the Lord poured out on him, then certainly someone like me is among those who can have it as well. Paul's expression of the grace of the Lord being poured out on him means all are within his call and all have opportunity. Only those who reject the gospel message are beyond salvation.
No sin, no life of rebellion, no life of debauchery places anyone beyond the saving grace and sacrifice of the cross of Jesus Christ. Any can respond to the gospel no matter what they have done with their lives. This is the power of the cross of Jesus Christ. This is the extent of his payment for our sins. No matter what we may have done, there is plenty payment available for it in the court of God's justice. All he asks is that we place our trust in him.
If the Lord can do what he did with the "worst of sinners"... what he can do with the rest of us?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life."
I look up to Paul, as many do. He was a prolific apostle for the Lord, taking the gospel to so much of the known world and penning half of the books in our New Testaments. In this passage, however, Paul extols what the Lord can do in the life of a sinner as himself. He claims to be "the worst of sinners" as "a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man." Verse 13. He acknowledged it was for this very reason the Lord picked him for his purposes.
In his confession of being the worst of sinners, Paul demonstrates none are beyond the love and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. If the "worst of sinners" can have the grace of the Lord poured out on him, then certainly someone like me is among those who can have it as well. Paul's expression of the grace of the Lord being poured out on him means all are within his call and all have opportunity. Only those who reject the gospel message are beyond salvation.
No sin, no life of rebellion, no life of debauchery places anyone beyond the saving grace and sacrifice of the cross of Jesus Christ. Any can respond to the gospel no matter what they have done with their lives. This is the power of the cross of Jesus Christ. This is the extent of his payment for our sins. No matter what we may have done, there is plenty payment available for it in the court of God's justice. All he asks is that we place our trust in him.
If the Lord can do what he did with the "worst of sinners"... what he can do with the rest of us?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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