12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, 13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.
15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God.
Amen.
Questions for Reflection:
How has Christ shown patience with you?
Did He stay with you when you doubted and rebelled?
Did he remain faithful when you were not faithful to Him?
Spend some time and thank Him for His love, His patience, and His forgiveness with you. Accept His forgiveness – there is NOTHING He will not forgive – think of Paul’s testimony! And now, be a Contender for the Kingdom, and share this amazing forgiveness and love from Jesus Christ with someone who may need hear Paul’s story – and YOUR story!
Prayer of the Week:
My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed in You, to receive Your love and Your life and all the GRACE and MERCY I so desperately need this day.
Jesus, I do need Your grace and Your mercy this day – everyday. I do not ask thinking I don’t have grace and mercy from You – my asking is the cry of an open receiving heart. Thank You for Your immense and intense love for me which shows up as unmerited favor (grace) and rescue from what I justly deserve (mercy).
Thank You for loving me so very well – I rest in Your love and ask You to bring to mind specific ways You have loved me with grace and loved me with mercy lately. (Spend a few moments letting the Spirit bring to mind times you have been “graced and mercy’d” recently. Take whatever time you need to engage with Jesus over what He is revealing.)
Jesus, I repent of times when I act like I don’t need grace and mercy. It is sad to think I am prone to “self-justify” or blame or excuse, especially when I need to be humble and open to mercy. I do this to You and I do this to others – I am so very sorry.
I am excited that You are leading me to be not only a receiver of mercy and grace but a giver. I am fully equipped to be gracious and merciful to others because You have been gracious and merciful to me. I get to love others with an over the top, long term, leads to healing kind of love because that is how I am loved by You.
I know I will be tempted to go the way of the Priest and Levite from the parable – having a righteous agenda which blinds me to opportunities for loving mercy and grace. Not today – I am a child of God, agent of my Father’s love, recipient of immense grace and unfathomable mercy, filled with the Holy Spirit, alive with resurrection Life – today I get to love others well with merciful words and actions. It is who I am in Christ!
This is going to be an amazing day!
Amen
