1 Timothy 1:12-20
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord for the power and strength He has given me. He trusted me and gave me His work to do. Before He chose me, I talked bad about Christ. I made His followers suffer. I hurt them every way I could. But God had loving-kindness for me. I did not understand what I was doing for I was not a Christian then. Then our Lord gave me much of His loving-favor and faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. What I say is true and all the world should receive it. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners from their sin and I am the worst sinner. And yet God had loving-kindness for me. Jesus Christ used me to show how long He will wait for even the worst sinners. In that way, others will know they can have life that lasts forever also. We give honor and thanks to the King Who lives forever. He is the One Who never dies and Who is never seen. He is the One Who knows all things. He is the only God. Let it be so. Timothy, my son, here is my word to you. Fight well for the Lord! God’s preachers told us you would. Keep a strong hold on your faith in Christ. May your heart always say you are right. Some people have not listened to what their hearts say. They have done what they knew was wrong. Because of this, their faith in Christ was wrecked. This happened to Hymenaeus and Alexander. I gave them over to Satan to teach them not to speak against God. 1 Timothy 1:12-20 (NLT)
In high school, we had to run one mile as part of the President’s Fitness program. I was not a runner by any definition and a friend and I chose to cut across the middle of the track rather than run the final lap. Needless to say, there is no Presidential Fitness Patch in my scrapbook. I told that story to the person who invited me to a running class many years later, but somehow she convinced me to go. She told me that if she could become a runner anyone could. Amazingly, the class was great and I became a runner. I ran a 5k and then signed up for the Lincoln half marathon. The first time I ran the half, I turned the corner onto 16th street, saw the street filled with runners and was overwhelmed. It made me cry. High School me would have never believed that I was running a half marathon but here I was.
Once I proved to myself that I could run, I was able to understand how I’d only convinced myself that I couldn’t do it. I’m able to convince myself that a lot of things are too difficult to even try but that doesn’t make it true. After I started enjoying running, I invited another friend to train with me for the next half. I convinced her with my high school story and “if I can do it anyone can”.
I think this story from Timothy is very similar. Paul has basically said, “if God has love for a sinner like me, He has love for you”. Even though Paul had convinced himself that he wasn’t worthy and even bad-mouthed Christians, God gave him love and grace. He had to experience that love before he could understand that God loves everyone.
No matter what we might think we are or are not capable of, God has love and purpose for us.
Questions for Reflection:
- What’s your “If I can do it, anyone can” story?
- What is God calling you to do that you’ve thought you couldn’t do in the past?
- What would happen if you tried the thing you’ve assumed you couldn’t do?
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for giving me love and grace even though I don’t deserve it. Let me find ways to invite others to feel that love in their lives. Amen
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