Daily Bread
1 Timothy 1
The Lord's Grace to Paul
12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Observation:
As Paul begins his encouragement for his son in the faith, Timothy, he shows where his true strength comes from. Paul says that Jesus has given him strength and considered him faithful. It is out of Paul’s experience of grace that saved him from his past life where he finds strength to be faithful.
As Timothy faces persecution and purveyors of bad doctrine, it will be this same grace and strength that will help Timothy to be faithful to the call of God on his life. Apparently it was prophesied that Timothy would be a leader in the church, and Paul recalls that for Timothy to encourage him to be faithful.
Application:
In times of stress and trial, it is good to remember our calling and appointment by the Lord to strengthen our inner being to withstand the battle. When God looks at us, he doesn’t see our past failures, but who we are in Christ. It is also important that Paul calls Timothy as a “son in the faith”. Paul played a vitally important role in Timothy’s life to shape him be the man God called him to be.
What has God appointed you to do and be? Do you have people in your life who encourage you and remind you who you are in the Lord? Many times we shrink back from our calling and resort to our old “false selves”. Take a moment to think about who God has called you to be and the strength He has given you to carry out that calling.
You can’t do it on your own. Paul’s strength was not from his own giftedness, but his ability to rely on God even in his weaknesses. If you do not have a spiritual mentor or “rabbi”, pray that God would lead you to someone who can encourage and equip you to be that what God has called you to be and remain faithful!
Prayer: God thank you for forgetting our past failures and focusing on who you have called us to be. Give us people like Paul in our lives to give us the encouragement we need. And also help us to be like Paul to others who will rely on us for spiritual parenting. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Lord's Grace to Paul
12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Observation:
As Paul begins his encouragement for his son in the faith, Timothy, he shows where his true strength comes from. Paul says that Jesus has given him strength and considered him faithful. It is out of Paul’s experience of grace that saved him from his past life where he finds strength to be faithful.
As Timothy faces persecution and purveyors of bad doctrine, it will be this same grace and strength that will help Timothy to be faithful to the call of God on his life. Apparently it was prophesied that Timothy would be a leader in the church, and Paul recalls that for Timothy to encourage him to be faithful.
Application:
In times of stress and trial, it is good to remember our calling and appointment by the Lord to strengthen our inner being to withstand the battle. When God looks at us, he doesn’t see our past failures, but who we are in Christ. It is also important that Paul calls Timothy as a “son in the faith”. Paul played a vitally important role in Timothy’s life to shape him be the man God called him to be.
What has God appointed you to do and be? Do you have people in your life who encourage you and remind you who you are in the Lord? Many times we shrink back from our calling and resort to our old “false selves”. Take a moment to think about who God has called you to be and the strength He has given you to carry out that calling.
You can’t do it on your own. Paul’s strength was not from his own giftedness, but his ability to rely on God even in his weaknesses. If you do not have a spiritual mentor or “rabbi”, pray that God would lead you to someone who can encourage and equip you to be that what God has called you to be and remain faithful!
Prayer: God thank you for forgetting our past failures and focusing on who you have called us to be. Give us people like Paul in our lives to give us the encouragement we need. And also help us to be like Paul to others who will rely on us for spiritual parenting. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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