Good morning,
This week we will look at 1 Timothy 1.
Timothy was a young preacher, lead to Christ by Paul. Paul is now writing to Timothy words of encouragement, challenge, and a charge on how to best minister to the church at Ephesus.
We will look at an introduction to 1 Timothy, the warning against false teachers, the Lord’s grace to Paul, and the purpose of Paul’s instruction to Timothy.
The Lord’s grace to Paul (1 Timothy 1:12-17)
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Paul thanks Jesus Christ for his call into the ministry and his salvation. He testifies to his wicked past, how he obtained mercy, and then closes with praise to the eternal, immortal, invisible, and only wise God. Paul’s salvation was real. From day one, he was being trained to minister for Christ.
All believers in Christ have a similar testimony to Paul. The circumstances are different, but each of us were sinners, away from God. We obtained mercy from God through Christ’s death, burial, resurrection on our behalf. Jesus paid for our sin debt at Calvary.
God has called every believer to some ministry for Him. Not all the servants of God in the Bible were full time prophets or missionaries. Many were ordinary people, doing ordinary things, telling others about who Jesus is, what He did for them, and how they could also have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Have you embraced the ministry God has given you? Do you have a testimony of how God saved you? Are you willing to share it with others? How important is Jesus Christ in your life?
Our challenge is to be busy about the ministry God has given us.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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