Thursday, January 20, 2011

When "me first" is Spiritual

1 Timothy 1:16 KJV
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Paul claims that God was longsuffering toward him as a pattern of what He would do throughout the rest of the age in showing all longsuffering toward them that believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to life everlasting.

Paul's reputation before his salvation was one of blasphemy and injury against the Lord and His people. Yet Christ showed all longsuffering to Him.

Paul never really lived down the things of his past,
• Rehearsing it to the Jews at the time of his arrest and
• Reviewing it again to Festus and Agrippa at the time of his defense
• He makes mention of it in Galatians
• He defends his ministry to the Corinthians who may have heard of Paul's past and had begun to question his authority and
• He mentions it again even here in First Timothy

But Paul's contention is that, though he lived with his past, God had turned that past around for His own purpose. It now demonstrates to us that the very same longsuffering Christ displayed toward Paul is available toward any and all who will believe on Christ for life everlasting.

Thank God for His longsuffering.

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