October 3
Isaiah 62-64
Psalm 108:7-13
Proverbs 24:8-9
I Timothy 1
The Worst Sinner
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners---of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the Only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” I Timothy 1:15-17
Paul has given us an excellent example to follow. He is not telling us that he is the worst sinner so that we can be at ease because we are not as bad as him. Unfortunately, I think most of us think that we aren’t really that bad. We compare ourselves to others and we usually come out looking pretty good. We tend to look at the sins of others and think they are terrible, but when we evaluate our own sin, we justify and rationalize and make excuses. We blame others or our circumstances. Often, we don’t even understand why we do the things we do or why we make the choices that we make, so we conclude that it isn’t our fault, and we can’t help ourselves. Paul did not do that. Paul honestly examined his heart and his life. He did not compare himself to others. He realistically viewed himself in relation to a holy and just God. He compared himself to the perfect, sinless Son of God and concluded that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners and he was the worst of them all. He admitted that he was a wretched sinner that needed to be saved and asked God to forgive him. Then he gratefully accepted Jesus’ offer of mercy and grace that gave him eternal life. He recognized that he had nothing to offer Jesus that could earn His favor. He came humbly and meekly begging for mercy. And then he spent the rest of his life telling others how they can receive this free gift for themselves.
He could have become arrogant because Jesus picked him to reveal Himself to on the road to Damascus. He could have thought he was special because God chose him to take the gospel to the Gentiles. He could have been prideful that God used him to write most of the New Testament. Instead, he was humbled that God would use someone who was the worst of sinners to display His patience as an example for others. He never lost sight of who he was and that all the glory belonged to God and not to him. This is a powerful reminder to us when we begin to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. A realistic examination of our hearts in comparison to a holy and just God will fill us with humility and appreciation. Like Paul, we will want to tell everyone who will listen what He has done for us and what He can do for them. Viewing ourselves realistically will also help us view others differently. Gratitude for the mercy and grace we have been given will overflow from our hearts so that we can extend that mercy and grace to others. Can we, like Paul, say with full acceptance, “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst”?
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