Amazing Grace, 1 Timothy 1:5-17
1 Timothy 1:5-17
5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
The Lord’s Grace to Paul
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 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. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Have you ever felt inadequate or undeserving to be loved by Jesus? If u have not, man I want to be like "you"! I grew up Catholic and I can say I had a hard time going to church, but my Mother being the Christ servant and great parent she is, made me go every week. Church was not my cup of tea in my childhood and teen years. The moment I turned 18, she told me, "Son, I can't make you go to church anymore, it will be your decision to continue from here. Just remember God loves you always!" At the time that is what I wanted to hear! That I didn't have to go and sit not wanting to be there. Little did I know the path God was putting me on to bring me to the point of being saved by Jesus!
I stuck to my guns and didn't go to church with her, and was attending Emporia State at the time, I met my now wife who literally saved me from the muck and mire that I had gotten myself in being in college. Tracy made things plain and simple. We had been seeing each other for only a short time when she said one evening, "If you don't come to church with me in the morning, this won't work!" That night was as sleepless as I remember it being. Here I was wrestling with what to do but decided to take that step to see where God was leading. The rest of the story most of you know. Had Tracy not stepped out to say what God led her to say, I would not have had the decision to make on my end of it. That is how God works. I would love to say that everything from that day on was all perfect without trial, but that is as far from the truth as one could get. That is what spoke to me about this passage in 1 Timothy.
There have been times in my life that I have felt very undeserving to be speaking to God in prayer. Maybe it’s the thoughts that run through my head from trials day to day, or the things in my past that cause me to feel this way at times, only God knows. There are days where I feel like a failure of a Christian, failure of a husband and parent. But I can tell you those days are much farther and fewer between the last several years because of the sanctification journey God has me on! Starting my day in scripture everyday has been a game changer for making me feel I am where God wants me to be. This world will pull you down as far as you let it without ceasing. Satan only has the power you give him, easier said than done for sure. But that is what this passage simply does for us all. It tells of the perfect patience that Jesus has for me despite my shortcomings. We are all worth the cost Jesus paid on the cross so many years ago! He knows I am not perfect and there will be trials in my walk. There have been many since giving my life to Jesus for sure. But looking back I can see Jesus there every step of the way with me. From my childhood years, through the rocky teen years, through meeting my wife and the blessing of the children He was always there! Through the trials in different jobs, through my covid hospital experience, the list goes on and on, He has never left and never will abandon me despite what the world may influence me to do from day to day. Verse 17 sums up why we go through what we do at times so well, it is for His glory not ours! 1 Tim 17, "To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen"
My prayer for each of us this Christmas season is to spend time each day with God having a conversation with Him. He seeks us personally every day! That is what Christmas is all about! The birth of our Savior, Jesus, who gave and continues to give of Himself everyday if we are willing to let Him do so. Scripture is the perfect road map of life. I pray for everyone to develop the habit of getting to know Him deeper each day. He deserves so much more than I give Him. Infinite thankfulness doesn't touch how much Jesus means to us all! I pray this devotion touches others as much as it has touched me to write it! Merry Christmas Everyone!
Jesse Rider
