Hope for the Hopeless
Hope for the Hopeless. Just as in the case of Paul, those who live and work around us and know us also have hope when they see that, as Christ was long suffering to us, so He will be long suffering to them.
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our
Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me
into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a
persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it
ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly
abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a
faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this
reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all
longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for
everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to
God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:12-17, NKJV
Hope for the Hopeless
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
In a
series of devotions on the mission of Christ, it is inevitable that we
come down to ourselves in saying that Christ brought hope for the
hopeless. When we read the testimony of Paul in his first letter to
Timothy it is like looking in a mirror. After all, who did Christ come
to save, the sinners or the righteous? Like Paul, we receive mercy from
Christ because we sinned ignorantly in unbelief.
Now look at verse 16: However,
for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might
show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe
on Him for everlasting life.
Do you understand what Paul is saying? When we observe the life of Paul we have hope; just as Christ was long suffering to Paul, so He is long suffering to us. No matter who we are or what we have done, there is always hope for us in Christ.
What
about those around us? Just as in the case of Paul, those who live and
work around us and know us also have hope when they see that, as Christ
was long suffering to us, so He will be long suffering to them. The
Mission of Christ becomes our mission as well - the advancement of
Christ's Kingdom on this earth through the spread of the Gospel. What an
amazing God we have!
Like Paul, we must also conclude:
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
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