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Paul, in writing "to Timothy my true son in the faith"
(v.1), lays out in these verses his credentials as a Christian. This
is what qualifies him to serve Christ and the cause of the gospel.
"I thank Christ Jesus my Lord, who has given
me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service."
(v12)
Jesus is Lord
The story is told of a sculpture commissioned to produce a statue of
Jesus for a great European cathedral. When people cam to see the finished
work the bishop walked around it, studying it from every angle. He then
asked the sculpture from which place he could get the best view. He
was answered that the best view of Jesus is on your knees. Here Paul
is, metaphorically, on his knees as he acknowledges Jesus as Lord. To
a Christian Jesus is Lord of his or her life.
I am a Sinner
In his letter to the saints at Colosse Paul wrote:
"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies
in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled
you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his
sight, without blemish and free accusation.""(Colossians 1:21-22)
To Timothy he does not excuse himself but confesses freely:
"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." (v13)
There is no escaping the fact we were all once enemies of God. In his
letter to the Roman believers Paul describes lost mankind:
"For although they knew God, they neither glorified
him as God nor gave thanks to him, but in their thinking became futile,
and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be
wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of God for images made
to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.""(Romans
1:21-23)
Every Christian has come to that point first where they realise and
confess that they have lied about God. They have made him like them
when he is altogether different. They have blasphemed in denying him
and readily confess their sin and ignorance.
God's Mercy and Grace Saved Me
There is a children's song we sing in church which is summed up neatly
in two lines:
Mercy is when God does not give us what we deserve.
Grace is when God gives us the things we
don't deserve.
This is what Paul is saying in verse 14 of our reading:
"The grace of our Lord was poured out on me
abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ."
The Christian, then, is someone to whom Christ is Lord and Lord without
equal or rival. Someone who has finally confessed that they have lied
about God and sinned against him and someone on whom God has "poured
out abundantly" his undeserved mercy and grace.
As you go into this week and enter this Christmas season may you know
him in this way, renewed in confidence in his magnificent and finished
work on the Cross. May you be able to say with Paul:
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves
full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners -
of which I am the worst." (v15)
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