How good is it that people change? How good it is that God does not. Change can be scary, invigorating, challenging, exciting, disastrous and/or rejuvenating. I am not a stranger to change, not in this season of my life especially. The new job, new town, new kid...when we embrace change, we EMBRACE it. Though it is in no way easy, it is a necessary part of our journey, and was a life altering experience for Paul.
1 Tim 1:12-17
Paul thanks the Lord for his strength, mercy, blessing, grace, and love. He acknowledges that even though he was an evil man at one point, Christ not only forgave him but chose to use him to do great things, even beyond what Paul could have perceived at the time he wrote these words. He then goes on to say that it has all been done not for Paul's glory, but instead to display the unlimited patience of Christ Jesus, the King.
Paul was one bad dude. We have already established that he did what he did out of a sense of duty and a form of "patriotism", but dude, he was destroying Christ's children. You have to be one heck of a person to kill someone over their beliefs. Sadly, its been done a whole lot throughout history, and continues on to this day. I have to admit, I can respect the passion and conviction it would take to be that hardcore, but yikes!! To go so far as to kill a human being, that's insane. And once Paul has seen these actions through the eyes of Christ, he realizes that he is the Chief of Sinners. Most days I am pretty sure that I am his First Lieutenant. That's not to say I consider myself a man as great as Paul, but rather I live with the knowledge of how much I suck!! Thankfully, I can also live with the knowledge of how great and unchanging, how merciful and patient a God I serve. He is the same God that Paul serves. And I say serves because Paul is still serving Christ today, just as I am. Only thing is Paul has the added bonus of living in the same Kingdom as he. How sweet will that be one day. And that is the reason that Christ accepted the Chief of Sinners, to further his Kingdom...make us aware of his unending patience fo those of us who believe in the Eternal Kingdom. Hopefully the Chief's First Lieutenant is reflecting that same truth.
I am touched, amazed and thankful that Paul and I serve the same God. That even though Paul considered himself real BAD, he knew that with Christ he was RIGHTEOUS. And I love the trustworthy saying "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst." What an amzing God.
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