Scripture to Read: 1 Timothy 1:13-14
In a part of the devotion yesterday, we focused on the fact that we need to be incredibly grateful that God has considered each of us worthy to be called into His service. Today we see why we need to be so grateful. As God led Paul to write, God had Paul share a little of what Paul was like before he surrendered his life to Christ. We read in 1 Timothy 1:13 that Paul was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent aggressor. We know who Paul blasphemed, persecuted, and was a violent aggressor toward because God recorded it for us in Acts 9:1-6. Jesus even says to Paul in Acts 9:5, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” Because Paul had been persecuting Christians, Jesus told Paul that he was actually persecuting Christ Himself. What a great reminder to us, as believers, that when we face persecution and violent aggression from this lost world, that the lost are hating and persecuting Christ in us. But we must also remember that we were blasphemers, persecutors, and violent aggressors against our Lord Jesus Christ before we came to know Christ as our Lord and Savior. The good news that God had Paul share is also found in 1 Timothy 1:13-14. God gave Paul (and all believers) His incredible mercy and grace, which are found in Christ Jesus. God also filled Paul (and all believers) with the faith and love he (we) needed, which are also found through our relationship with Christ. That’s the good news we must share daily.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today, through Paul’s life, about your past life and also about your present life now that you are in Christ?
2. How are you sharing the good news with those who are still blasphemers, persecutors, and violent aggressors against our Lord Jesus Christ?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!