Tag: honor and glory forever
Faithfulness brings mercy!
Scripture reading for September 11th: 1st Timothy 1, Psalm 31, Proverbs 26
1st Timothy 1:12-17 “I thank Him Who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Paul begins his letter to his young ‘son’ in the faith by sharing about how he received Christ’s mercy, Paul considered himself the ‘foremost’ of sinners, because he persecuted God’s people and even had some murdered out of zeal for the law and ignorance of faith and grace. He was worthy of great punishment and rejection by God. But through Christ Jesus, Paul received grace and an appointment into God’s service. He came to realize that it was Christ’s primary mission to save sinners, even ones as bad as he was! Christ used the miraculous change in Paul’s life as an example to others and as a display of God’s perfect patience. All Paul could do, along with us, was worship the King of the Ages Who lives forever and ever! God’s faithfulness and patience brought Paul into His family and us who believe as well!
Psalm 31:3-5 “For You are my Rock and my Fortress; and for Your Name’s sake You lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for You are my Refuge. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing patience with me and the grace You have shown to all sinners throughout history. It is Your love and faithfulness that have brought me to a place of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. You have delivered me from pride and flattery as well as lying and violence. You are my King Eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God. You are worthy of honor and glory forever!
Proverbs 26:28 “A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.”
To the King Eternal!
Scripture reading for September 24th: 1st Timothy 1
The letters of Paul to Timothy serve the church by giving pastoral insight into the ministry of a pastor and the qualifications of those in leadership. When this letter was written, Paul was nearing the end of his own ministry and facing his final imprisonment in Rome. Paul reminded Timothy of his own testimony to encourage him.
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work–which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1st Timothy 1:3-5) Paul told Timothy that part of the work of a pastor was dealing with false teachers. False doctrine (teachings about the faith) leads to controversies. These tend to become about works, instead of faith. Paul’s goal was Christ’s love that was the result of a pure heart founded on sound doctrine and sincere faith.
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service. Even though I once was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.” (1st Timothy 1:12-13) Paul was also once a false teacher, bound by ignorance of the Truth of Jesus Christ. God showed him mercy. Paul wanted Timothy and us to know that, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–“.
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1st Timothy 1:17) Paul worshiped Christ, the “King Eternal”, for His great mercy and love!