This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptations, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1 Timothy 1:15
Recently I received a letter from a friend in Ohio...
Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1 Timothy 1:15
Recently I received a letter from a friend in Ohio...
...who told me he sometimes feels led to share my testimony with others. He said that while most of these people would listen politely, and a few would be curious and ask questions, he was shocked by the number of them, even other Christians, who would react with a degree of hostility and would get "upset."
This is something that I, as well as my other friends on the "outside," have had to deal with quite often. So I wrote back and suggested, to this brother in the faith, to try to explain to them that, like the apostle Paul, I was simply shown mercy from the Lord not because I am anyone special, but only because God wants to use me to show the world yet one more example of His unlimited patience and mercy towards everyone, including the very worst people by society's standards.
I will always be the first to admit that I do not deserve anything from the Lord, other than to be sentenced to eternity in the Lake of Fire, and to be tormented forever. However, the Bible says that God delights in showing mercy (Micah 7:18).
Apart from the Lord I am nothing. But today, by His grace, another one of the "chief sinners" can be put on display to show the world that no one is beyond God's reach and Christ's forgiveness.
Yes, even some Christians have a hard time accepting my salvation. I told my Ohio friend that this is just the way it goes. Not everyone can comprehend the depths of God's mercy. But I did thank him profusely to being willing to be my voice, so to speak, in telling others what Christ has done for me. 1 Timothy 1:12-16.
D.B.
This is something that I, as well as my other friends on the "outside," have had to deal with quite often. So I wrote back and suggested, to this brother in the faith, to try to explain to them that, like the apostle Paul, I was simply shown mercy from the Lord not because I am anyone special, but only because God wants to use me to show the world yet one more example of His unlimited patience and mercy towards everyone, including the very worst people by society's standards.
I will always be the first to admit that I do not deserve anything from the Lord, other than to be sentenced to eternity in the Lake of Fire, and to be tormented forever. However, the Bible says that God delights in showing mercy (Micah 7:18).
Apart from the Lord I am nothing. But today, by His grace, another one of the "chief sinners" can be put on display to show the world that no one is beyond God's reach and Christ's forgiveness.
Yes, even some Christians have a hard time accepting my salvation. I told my Ohio friend that this is just the way it goes. Not everyone can comprehend the depths of God's mercy. But I did thank him profusely to being willing to be my voice, so to speak, in telling others what Christ has done for me. 1 Timothy 1:12-16.
D.B.