To Encourage You

1 Timothy 1:12-17 “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

If you know Christ, like Paul, you have a story. It is a different story, but you have one. What you once were, you aren’t anymore. You’ve lived your life “before Christ” and now you are living your life after He touched your life, and there is no comparison. You may have been a blasphemer with a foul mouth. You may have been sexually immoral, a drunk, or one who abused drugs. You may have been a gossip. You were perhaps a racist, but if not, likely prejudiced in some way against others who were not like you. You may have had little time for God, the Bible, spiritual things, or the Church. Whatever it was, you are aware of it. You know you’ve been changed by the grace of God, and you are grateful, astounded that God should love such a sinner. While you are not perfect by any means, and vestiges of these old things and old ways may still rear their ugly head in your life from time to time, you are not what you once were. You are a work in progress, but your heart’s desire is to be like Christ.

If all this sounds foreign to you, then you’ve never met Christ. You are just the same as all those who have met Him were before He entered their life. And if He really entered their life, no matter what hardships they have faced in their new life, they have absolutely no desire to go back to what they were. If those facts make you wonder what this Christian life is all about, I invite you – no, much more than that, Christ invites you, to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). It is Christ who is saying to you “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).” But – you may think, I’m just not ready yet; maybe someday, but not just yet. To you He says, “now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). But then you may think, I’m not good enough. I could never live such a life. But to this Jesus’ Word says, “while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8), and “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37).

So what about you? Do you see yourself in the “whoever.” Do you know you are a sinner and do you want forgiveness – and a new life? If so, Christ has given His life for you to make this all possible. Won’t you give your life to Him? You will never regret it if you do. Just ask one of those who was lost but now are found, blind but now they see.