Today’s reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-20
Paul is giving thanks to God for saving him and then using him to spread the Gospel and minister to others. As part of his thanks, Paul looks back and remembers the substantial nature and incredible depth of his sin (“I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent”), and how in spite of it all, God extended mercy to him. What a picture of God’s great love for us.
It’s not too difficult to get caught up in the mindset that we, or someone we love, has done too much wrong for God to love, forgive and accept us. That’s simply not true. God loves us and welcomes us with open arms when we ask for forgiveness and surrender our lives to Him. This statement from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on 1 Timothy 1:12-20 says it all.
“The greatness of sin is no bar to our acceptance with God, no, nor to our being employed for him, if it be truly repented of.” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary, biblegateway.com)
What encouragement did you draw from Paul’s words today? Who do you know that needs to hear how much God loves them regardless of how they’ve lived, and that Christ came into the world to forgive and save them? Tami
Source: Tami’s Blog