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1 Timothy 1:12-14
In 1 Timothy 1:12-14 the Apostle Paul gives thanks to our Savior Jesus for saving him and calling him to ministry. This is extraordinary due to the fact that Paul, who once went by the name of Saul, used to be a persecutor of Christians. The Bible teaches us in Acts 8:1-3 (NKJV) in reference to the death/martyrdom of Stephen that Saul was “consenting” to Stephen being martyred. In Acts 8:3 the Bible teaches, “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.” These things are all noted in the Bible so that we all can see God’s grace and forgiveness in action. If God can utilize Saul, whom He changed from the inside out and gave him a new compassionate heart, then God can use all of us too.
This is an example of God’s grace and forgiveness in action to change a person’s life from the inner workings of the heart.
God has shown His grace and forgiveness to Saul, whom He later changed his name to Paul and purified his heart through God’s own grace and forgiveness. God changed the heart of Paul from a persecutor of the Church to its leading minister, evangelist, and preacher. The irony here is that the Gentiles were considered outsiders and not worthy of God’s grace and forgiveness. God took the person who was in charge of persecuting the Jews who were professing Jesus and made him the evangelist to the ones (Gentiles) who were not even considered worthy of God’s grace, let alone salvation through Jesus from which the Jews were having their own troubles accepting. This was a calling that no one would dare step into, and the one God called to it was the least likely to be considered for the position. God works in mysterious ways and calls us to positions that we may feel unworthy of or incapable of accomplishing. The truth is that we are incapable and we cannot accomplish these callings from God, but with Him, we can do all things. Paul declared in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” He continues in Philippians 4:19 declaring, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Please take notice of some key words here, “according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” It is God who accomplishes these things for us, it is our obedience to Him through faith that allows it to take place in our lives.
Dear LORD,
You are mighty and You are our strength. Please help us to realize and understand that it is through You that we are made able to accomplish anything that You call us to as we put our complete faith and trust in You. You were able to change the life of Saul and make him a great evangelist, and You are able to change any and all of us to make us whatever You call us to – in Christ! In Jesus name I pray, amen.