“I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry — one who was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” — and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:12-17 HCSB
What a testimony...Paul is well known for his drive, commitment and sacrifice for the spreading of the Gospel. When people think of Paul, they think of his love for God and his knowledge of the Word but Paul wasn't always like this. Paul used to be Saul- a persecutor of Christians, a blasphemer against the Holy Spirit and a hater of Jesus Christ...but these things didn't change God's love for him nor God’s calling over his life. Out of God's love, He showed Saul mercy changing his name to Paul and calling him to ministry.
I love this testimony of Paul because he didn't use it to gain pity from others nor did he use it to brag about where he is now and how "righteous he is". No, this is a genuine, sincere, honest, humble, straight from the heart testimony from a sinful man who encountered the transforming love of God and was changed eternally. "“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” — and I am the worst of them." Paul isn't speaking from hear-say...no one forced him to utter these words. Paul is voluntarily proclaiming this from personal experience with Christ. I can just feel the sincerity in this passage.
Spreading the Gospel isn't about forcing our faith on others...it's about spreading the Love of our Savior to others that they might be able to experience the life changing power of His Grace and Mercy. We don't receive redemption so we can just have a "ticket to Heaven" and kick it down here until God calls us home. We don’t receive grace and mercy so that we can look down on those who have yet to accept these free gifts. "But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life." Paul understood why he received this mercy. This Gift is too valuable to keep to ourselves...it's supposed to be shared…in love.
If you have been wandering looking for love, acceptance and satisfaction, in this month about celebrating love, I want to let you know Who true Love Is- Jesus.
The world has tricked us into thinking that love is an emotion...that love is something you have to work for...that you have to act just right, do the right things and look a certain way in order to receive it but that's a lie. Love is not a feeling that comes and goes. Love is not something you have to give your body to receive. If anything, that's lust. Lust is very good at trying to make itself appear to be love...we have to be careful to not confuse the two.
Love is sacrifice, selfless and sincere. Love is not a feeling for feelings are fleeting, they're ever changing...but love, love is never ending. Love is patient. Love is kind. It keeps no account of wrongs. It trusts all things. It is understanding. It supports and encourages. It never condemns or puts down. It edifies. It pursues. It respects. It is pure.
So many don't know Christ so they don't know love and end up settling for the counterfeit. And as a woman, it breaks my heart to see so many women give their bodies away hoping to get love in return. Love does not violate...that's lust and God created His daughters for more than that.
Men and women, you don't ha to endure abusive relationships in order to "receive love". THAT IS NOT LOVE.
Whatever you're doing to "receive love" that harms you in any way (physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, etc.) whether male or female, STOP. You don’t have to do anything to receive true love. Love is unconditional. It doesn't have hoops for you to jump through and obstacle courses to run in order to receive it.
God allows His love to flow freely to any who are willing to open themselves to Him and allow Him to come in.
““For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:16-17 HCSB
“The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, for we are as He is in this world. There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:8-10, 16-19 HCSB
"Searching the whole earth for what you only find in Heaven...so insane."- KB
If you don't know God intimately and haven't experience His Love but would like to, He is just a prayer away. He is waiting for you to allow Him into your heart. He is a gentleman, He doesn't impose Himself on anyone...He is waiting to be invited.
Just confess your sins to Him, believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again to pay for your sins and accept Him as your Lord and Savior and invite Him into your heart and life for eternity. That's all it takes.
If you need any guidance, have any questions/concerns or just need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to email me @ sowfullservant@gmail.com I will be glad to help as best as I can.