Skip to main content

Thursday... Even when we are ignorant, he is merciful.


Thursday...  Even when we are ignorant, he is merciful.

Over in 1 Timothy 1:12-13 (NLT) the Apostle Paul writes, "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." 

He goes on. In verses 15-16 he says, "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." Now we may feel that way in our ignorance about ourselves. He goes on, "But" That is such a great word. "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." We've checked off so many people, even ourselves, but God hasn't. He is so patient. Paul continues, "Then others will realize that they too, can believe in him and receive eternal life."

Did you need to hear that today? You may have checked off someone, even yourself as a lost cause. We would have said that Paul was a lost cause but God didn't. He saw him as a prime example who was ignorant, who didn't believe in the right thing, who was doing what he thought was right but God saw him as a prime example of what Christ can do in someone's hopeless life.  

Paul writes, "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." I'm sure I would have checked him off. But God didn't and He doesn't today because he is patient and merciful. 

Here is the key, the latter part of verse 13 says, "But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief." Ignorance is not the only problem here, so is unbelief. The last part of verse 16 says, "Then others will realize that they too, can believe in him and receive eternal life." We must believe in him. Yes, Paul was ignorant but he also believed in the wrong thing. We must realize they we too can believe in him and receive eternal life.

Paul then says in verse 17, "All honor and glory to God forever and forever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies, he alone is God. Amen." His patience and mercy will last forever. And we too can reap the benefit of that fact by believing that we are not a lost cause but that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners", to save us and we just need to reach out to him and believe in him and we too will live forever and forever.

We don't need to be ignorant any more. Verses 13-14 says, "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 comes from Christ Jesus." Now that is Good News! Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning


 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is!

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is! Look at this, Proverbs 5:21-23 (CEV) says, "The Lord sees everything, and he watches us closely. Sinners are trapped and caught by their own evil deeds. They get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control." That is true of so many. Now look at this, Luke 15:1-7 says, "Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, 'This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them.' Then Jesus told them this story: If any of you has 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the 99 in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? And when you find it, you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, 'Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.' Jesus said, 'In the same way there is mo
Post a Comment
Read more

Tuesday... Let's be smart.

Tuesday... Let's be smart. Proverbs 12:16a (CEV) says, "Losing your temper is foolish." It really is. And it is so hard to take it back. That is not smart. There are always consequence when we lose our temper and they are usually not good. Think of the last time you lost your temper at home, at your kids, at your spouse, at your pets. at your life, at where you live, at where you work. There are always repercussions and they are not good.  The New Living Translation says, "A fool is quick-tempered." The Message says, "Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly." The Amplified Bible says, "The [arrogant] fool's anger is quickly known [because he lacks self-control and common sense]." It just is not a good thing. is it? But then the rest of this verse, this proverb (CEV) says, "ignoring an insult is smart." It really is. I have striven in dealing with people to give them a benefit of doubt. They didn't mean that, they
Post a Comment
Read more

Friday... But, can be such a beautiful word.

Friday... But, can be such a beautiful word. It really can be life changing. Look at what Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians. In 2:1-3 (NLT) he says, "Once you were dead because of your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil - the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else." There it is, there it is. That is the way we are living or have lived. Dead is a definite word of finality. At least the devil thought so and maybe you do too. And then verses 4-5 starts by saying, "But", that beautiful life changing word of opportunity even though we are dead. Yes, we are subject to God's anger, "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even t
Post a Comment
Read more