March 29
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PAUL’S FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE OF THE GOSPEL
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was previously a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. – 1 Timothy 1:12-17
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Paul shifts in this letter from his instructions to Timothy and exhibits his gratefulness to what God has done in his life. We get a glimpse of Paul’s humility in these passages. In verse 12, he acknowledges how humbling it is to have been given such honor to be chosen as one of Jesus’ anointed apostle assigned to the Gentiles. In verse 13, he openly confesses in this letter how sinful he was before the Lord called him and converted him and made him experience the gospel first hand. What a heart-warming letter to his protegee Timothy! A teacher who can actually admit his weaknesses and acknowledge and point to the Lord as the one who did it all. He was a blasphemer, a persecutor and violent aggressor before he was ca
lled to serve the Lord. It didn’t stop the Lord from appointing him to this ministry. He is amazed by God’s mercy and grace to have been forgiven of his atrocious sins and turned around to be a servant of God’s righteousness. In verse 16, he tells Timothy that with his sinfulness, he witnessed God’s demonstration of perfect patience so that all believers could emulate that kindness and gentleness. Paul gives hope to both believers and unbelievers when he witnessed to them about his conversion from the worst sinner to a minister of the gospel.
In verse 17, he points to the Lord for everything that he has been anointed with just like John the Baptist said that the Lord must increase and he must decrease in John 3:30. How many ministers of the gospel still do this in our world today? Many preachers, bible teachers and other ministers have forgotten how they first were called to ministry. The focus of their service has shifted from serving God to serving their own selfish interests.
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REFLECTION
• Why must we always remember how we were given the gift of salvation?