My Walk With Him: ...I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief[.] 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.

Saturday, July 22, 2023

...I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief[.] 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.

...I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief[.] 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. 1 Timothy 13, 15-16

I continue my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul. Today, I move to chapter twenty-seven - Admitting Imperfections and Turning Them for Love. Here, John Piper loves and admires Paul for how he is "open about his imperfections, [and how] he actually turns them for the comfort and encouragement of others....Paul’s vulnerability here is for our hope, as we imperfectly pursue holiness*." Piper starts by pointing out Paul is in elite company as an apostle, yet he freely admits that he is far from perfect and shares his weaknesses and battle against sin as a message of hope for others doing the same (all of us!). Piper provides a number of scripture examples of how Paul does this:

God brings people out of spiritual darkness (2 Corinthians 4:4-6)
grants them to repent and believe (2 Timothy 2:25, Philippians 1:29)
unites them to Jesus Christ (Romans 6:5)
counts them as having the very righteousness and perfect obedience of Christ (Romans 5:19)
gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit and the gift of eternal life (Romans 8:9, 6:23)
begins the process of making them like Jesus, from one degree of glory to the next (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Piper notes how Paul shares the details of his battle with sin by referring us to 1 Timothy 6:12 and 1 Corinthians 13:9-10, 12, and also in Romans 7:15,18,22-25. Piper closes the chapter by pointing to Paul's own admission of his heinous sins of persecuting Christians in 1 Timothy 1:13, 15-16 where we see how Paul "believed that God saved him the way he did and when he did so that people who despaired that they were too sinful to be saved might have hope.*"

*John Piper. 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are so good and so full of mercy, providing Paul rich mercy and using him as a beacon of hope for believers everywhere - thank You Jesus for Your mercy for me...and for helping me in my daily battle with sin. I am not deserving of how You bless. My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.