| Isaiah 62:6-65:25; Philippians 2:19-3:3; Psalm 73:1-28; Proverbs 24:13-14
“From ancient times no one has heard, no one has listened, no eye has seen any God except You, who acts on behalf of the one who waits for Him. You welcome the one who joyfully does what is right; they remember You in Your ways. But we have sinned, and You were angry; we will remain in Your ways and be saved…Yet Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hands. Lord, do not be terribly angry or remember our iniquity forever.” (Isaiah 64:4-5, 8-9)
“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. Since it was out of ignorance that I had acted in unbelief, I received mercy, 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 because of this, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate the utmost 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.” (I Timothy 1:12-17)
Throughout the Old Testament and the New, God’s objective has never changed: saving souls and changing lives. His whole desire is to become known to an unaware people. In our Old Testament reading God extends His hand to those who are His, those who know Him and should know better than to stray but have. The writer acknowledged the greatness and sovereignty of God and how He graciously receives those who do right by Him. He also confesses and repents, asking God to forgive. Which God does because that’s how He rolls. I love Him.
In the New Testament, we get a glimpse of Paul’s and God’s heart. Paul was a grateful man, knowing the grace and mercy that had been given to him for all of his sinful acts, including the persecution of God’s people. His heart in revealing this was to share hope with others who may feel that they have gone too far or are too bad of a sinner for God to want, help or change. In our human way of thinking, you can’t get much worse than slaying God’s people, which is what Paul did. But in God’s mentality the only unpardonable sin is rejecting Christ until you have no chance left. If we don’t receive the atoning work of Christ on the cross, then we will stand before God with our sins laid bare, still in need of payment but with nothing left to cover them.
Know that anything can be forgiven. Paul said he acted in ignorance which lets us see that God’s heart even reaches out to and accepts those who are deceived and unaware of who He truly is. God loves Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Asians, Americans, Koreans, white, brown, red, Republicans, Democrats and Independents. He wants everyone to be saved. Our testimony is key to that. Each one of us has a story to tell. Never be ashamed to testify of where God has brought you. You just may be identifying with someone that you would never guess. Always know that God loves people in spite of ourselves so don’t ever consider anyone too far gone for Jesus. After all He is in the miracle working business!
“Now the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (I Timothy 1:5)
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to always remember how important my testimony is and to never be ashamed to share it. I also pray You would keep me humble, recognizing where I came from and that I am no better than anyone else. Lord, give me a heart for the lost. Let me see them as You do and help me to be accepting, loving and active in restoring my brothers and sisters who have fallen. Thank You Potter for giving me an opportunity to be…In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. |
