“I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and our Lordʼs grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” - and I am the worst of them! But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.”
(1 Timothy 1: 12-17)
Here is how The Message Bible elaborates on these passages.
“I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were violence and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing—didn’t know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.
Here’s a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I’m proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.”
Deep honor and bright glory to the King of All Time— One God, Immortal, Invisible, ever and always. Oh, yes! (1 Timothy 1:12-17) The Message Bible.
These passages remind me of someone, me. Those who know my past know that at one time in my life I was used by Satan as a user of people, a user of women, a user and dealer of drugs, a user of lies and manipulation towards my parents and friends,, who publicly denied the existence of God. I was “someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy.” I was one who “was treated mercifully” and had “Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.”
My family, are you one of those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever? I pray right now in faith you will jump off the edge and splash down into the stream of God’s amazing, love, grace and peace. Do you know someone who is right on the edge? I pray you will walk out of your plans today to stand on the edge with them, lovingly hold their hand, and jump with them, rejoicing, laughing and splashing into the stream of God’s amazing, love, grace and peace, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
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