Sunday, March 28, 2021

1 Timothy 1:12-13

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief”

Christ called Paul to serve Him despite Paul’s background of threats and violence against Christians. Christ called Paul knowing all his bad, his dirt, and his history. Paul at the calling of Jesus turned his life around and zealously pursued preaching and sharing the good news about Christ to the world.

Christ gave Paul the strength to do what he called him to do. After all the persecution and blaspheme Paul did, Christ still considered him trustworthy and used him mightily. If Christ can call and use a person like Paul who did what he did… Christ can call and use a person like me… like you… who’ve done what we’ve done. We must not let the shame of our past stop us from being a powerful vessel, having a powerful testimony, and being a powerful witness in Jesus name.

Christ specializes in calling people who think they can’t be used, who think they are useless, who think their past disqualifies them from being used by Him. As Paul didn’t see his transformation coming, we may not see our transformation coming either. But whether we see it coming or not, we should answer the door when Christ comes knocking.

Christ can and will forgive us of our past transgressions, but we also must forgive ourselves. The harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few. Paul said YES and allowed himself to be used by Christ. I said YES and I’m allowing myself to be used by Christ. Will you say YES and allow yourself to be used also?

Food For Thought: How would things be if The Father told Christ to go and do and Christ said no or dragged His feet in His calling? Where would you be… where would I be… if Christ didn’t obey!?!

WBFWE