Sunday 19 May 2013

Sunday Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-14

Key Verse: 1 Timothy 1:13
13  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Devotion:
I wonder, how many times have you got to the point where you are absolutely sure that things are all going to collapse in a huge pile and that will be the end of it all, only to find out that something quite unexpected changes in the nick of time and you come out being able to hold on to things? Most of the times I can think back on things I cannot remember when things did go all my own way, so picking times when things went wrong are quite easy!

Paul knew that he was one of the biggest sinners against Christ before he was saved by God’s grace. At that time he actually thought that he was doing it all the correct ways because he was following all the rules to the letter. Unfortunately he did not quite see that the law that he was following was not the law according to Jesus Christ but a corruption of what man wanted instead of God’s Perfect law!

When he went back and looked at himself he saw a terrible person persecuting the church and going against Jesus Christ. When he changed and saw just how wonderful a relationship can be with Jesus, his life changed! Before he understood the truth he was ignorant. Just because he was ignorant did not give him the excuse to continue working against Christ! If that were so that Christ would not have had to meet him on the road to Damascus and pull him out of his sinful ways!

It is because our Lord and Saviour is a merciful God that we can find forgiveness when we are sure that we do not deserve it. It is because of His abundant mercy that we find such love even when we run off in the opposite direction or fight against Him every step of the way. But don’t expect Him to continue ignoring you when you fight Him because He will make sure you get the point – God is God and you are not!

Points to Ponder:
What is your life like?

Are you still leading a sinful life?