As Paul the apostle
continued to teach young Timothy his “son in the faith”,
he thanked “Christ Jesus” for enabling him and counting
him “faithful” to be put “into the ministry”.
Paul knew it was a merciful act by Jesus that he would be able to
serve others, and in chapter one and verse thirteen of his letter to
Timothy, Paul shared how he was a “blasphemer”, a “persecutor”
and “injurious” when Jesus' mercy came to him. We read:
Who was before a
blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious:
but I obtained mercy,
because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
The verse begins, “Who
was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious:”
As Paul described his former life without Jesus Christ, he began
with, “Who was before”
or “prior and in former time” “a blasphemer”
which means a person who is “speaking evil, slanderous,
reproachful, railing and abusive”. Paul added, “and a
persecutor” or “tormentor or
oppressor” “and injurious”
which means “an insolent man or one who is uplifted with
pride and who either heaps insulting language upon others or does
some shameful act of wrong against them”. Paul was an “evil
speaking, tormenting, prideful and insolent man” who railed upon
those who were believers in Jesus Christ.
The
verse goes on to say, “but I obtained mercy, because I
did it ignorantly in unbelief.”
Paul went on to add, “but”
which is that disassociation conjunction which means what is about to
be stated is greater than the previous remark, “I
obtained mercy” or received
“aid and help to the afflicted and wretched and experiencing
not getting what one deserves”. Paul gave the reason why he
“obtained mercy”, “because” or “since” “I
did” or “made, fashioned, produced, formed and constructed”
“it ignorantly” which means “unknowingly, without
understanding, by mistake and wrongfully” “in unbelief”
or “unfaithful, faithless and weakness of faith”. Paul received
the aid and help of the Lord even while he was in his blasphemous,
persecuting and injurious state because he didn't know or understand
what he was actually doing. He was so filled with unbelief in Jesus,
that he didn't know his actions were against Him.
While we think on these
words of Paul, perhaps our minds will go back to a time in our lives
where we did things “ignorantly in unbelief” against the
Lord Jesus and His church. Maybe some who are reading these words are
like this now. Though we may have been or are “blasphemers,
persecutors and injurious” against Jesus Christ, His “mercy”
was and is extended to all who will receive it. We can almost hear
the joy and elation of Paul's words as he declares the “mercy”
he “obtained” from Jesus Christ, and if we think about it
long enough, we may burst out with praise and glory to our Savior
Jesus ourselves as we consider the “mercy” the “not
getting what we deserve” from Him as well. May we be overjoyed with
the fact that Jesus Christ is a “merciful”, ready to aid, and
willing Lord to the wretched, ignorant unbelievers in the world of
whom we are a part.
Next
time Paul shares about exceeding abundant grace, so read ahead, and
we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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