“Grace Beyond Compare!”

“Grace Beyond Compare!”(I Tim.1:12-17).
Dhar Mann always ends a skit by telling his fans, “…We’re not just telling stories, we’re changing lives…” Indeed, stories are meaningless if they do not change lives.
If the glimpses of an autobiography makes no contribution to changing lives, it becomes valueless. Paul the master letter writer was very good at blending his life stories in his letters. And from each of such life stories is a lesson of faith.
Writing to young Timothy, a son he was grooming in the faith, Paul recounts his encounter with grace and its effect upon his life. He also considers it a lesson of grace transformation to others like us.
He writes,“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 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 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 for ever and ever. Amen.”
Like Paul we are what we are because “the grace of our Lord was poured on us abundantly, along with the faith and love in Christ Jesus.”
Even though Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, consider yourself the worst of them so that the grace upon your life can be well deserving!
It is in the worst of sinners that Christ Jesus displays his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
Grace is God in Christ Jesus taking us as we are, showing us mercy and making us what he wants us to become; forgeting who we were, giving us strength, finding us trustworthy and appointing us for service to humanity in our various spheres of competence.
Weekend prayer: Lord I thank you for pouring your grace abundantly on me along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.