Read 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Wednesday

Read 1 Timothy 1:12-17

12 I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength for my work. I thank him for considering me worthy and appointing me to serve him, ¹³even though in the past I spoke evil of him and persecuted and insulted him. But God was merciful to me because I did not yet have faith and so did not know what I was doing. ¹⁴And our Lord poured out his abundant grace on me and gave me the faith and love which are ours in union with Christ Jesus. ¹⁵This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them, ¹⁶but God was merciful to me in order that Christ Jesus might show his full patience in dealing with me, the worst of sinners, as an example for all those who would later believe in him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷To the eternal King, immortal and invisible, the only God—to him be honour and glory for ever and ever! Amen.

Think

Good news!  Having been confronted by Psalm 14 and Jeremiah 4 we can be comforted by the promise of God's mercy in 1 Timothy 1 - Paul testifies:

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  I am the worst of them..."

Note that Paul uses the present tense.

"God was merciful to me in order that Christ Jesus might show his full patience in dealing with me..."

Pray

Lord, I am the worst sinner.  But God in your mercy, let Jesus prove your patience in dealing with me, healing me, transforming me.