Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus together are known as the Pastoral Letters because they deal primarily with church governance and leadership.
Timothy was probably Paul’s most trusted and loyal partner and friend through much of his ministry.
In this his first letter to Timothy, Paul wants to give the young Timothy good advice on how to build the young church in Ephesus that he was being sent to. He begins this letter however with a testimony of his own life’s journey presumably as a background to helping Timothy to know the man that he has become. In a way, Paul is reflecting on his former life and how far from that life he has come. Presumably it will be an inspiration to Timothy to hear this testimony of God’s grace to his mentor Paul.
From his reflection, we can see several things about Paul which is, in my opinion, the template for what a truly devout Christian should be.
First of all, Paul is aware that God has been merciful to him. In reflecting on his life Paul recognises that his past actions were simply because of his ignorance and God knew that too. Although he was a violent man, a blasphemer and persecutor of Believers in Christ, God still had mercy on him. God’s grace was extended to him not because of anything he had done to deserve it but because of God’s love for him. As far as Paul is concerned he could easily have been the same violent man and blasphemer but for the grace of God.When we speak about grace we must remember this is one of the most important words in scripture as it defines the very nature of God. Very often we speak of grace and mercy in the same thought and sentence as if they are synonymous. Grace we should remember refers to God’s unmerited favour on an individual. Think of it as benefiting in some way or from the kindness of someone which you did not deserve at all. We are saved because of the grace of God. We are who we are in this world because of the grace of God. Mercy on the other hand, refers to having pity on someone who is helpless and doing something meaningful to help or ameliorate or transform that person’s state of being or condition. None of us can say we deserve anything from God, but he loves us and reaches out to bless us and keep us because of his grace. When we see someone in an unfortunate situation, or someone who is really down, we often pause to think or at the very least we should think how easily that person’s unfortunate circumstance could be us. We could be walking in that person’s shoes but for the grace of God. Most of us are where we are in life because someone sent by God saw us in need or saw that our lives were without focus and did something to change the trajectory of our lives. It could have been a kind word, or some physical help or anything else that set us on a new path of hope. Many of us here can also speak about the persons whose lives we have also had a positive impact on because we were led to these persons. This is how God’s mercy extends to people everywhere in all kinds of situations.
Secondly, Paul is grateful. Paul’s entire life after his conversion was a life of gratitude. He recognised how far gone he was, he recognised that God had done something special for him by giving him a new life and so his life going forward was lived in expression of gratitude to God. Paul’s passion and commitment to service throughout all the trials he had to bear originated from a heart of gratitude. The message to us clearly is that we cannot truly give ourselves to God unless we feel deeply grateful to God. What do we have to be grateful to God for? Just about everything. Our lives, all that we have acquired and achieved, being saved from difficult and perilous situations, being healed from various illnesses, God’s constant protection even when we don’t acknowledge it and I could go on and on. The Christian who is aware that his or her life is entirely in God’s hands and he or she is alive today because of God’s grace and mercy is a grateful Christian. Concurrently only grateful Christians will be truly passionate and energised to do God’s work. Paul was a grateful Christian, are you?
Thirdly, Paul notes that God’s grace poured out on him was an example for all who come to God. It was not for him alone but for everyone who would accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Paul’s testimony hinges on the declaration that, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst. (See 1Timothy 1:16 NIV) Many would have seen Paul in those days as a totally hopeless case that not even God could change but there he was, the living example of the power of God’s love and mercy. So too, anyone else who we think is too far gone or past the point of no return is never beyond God’s power and grace. In this world we have a tendency of righting off people. We think they have done so badly that they cannot be redeemed. Paul’s testimony and message to Timothy and to the world is that God’s grace is limitless and for all people. Anyone can be brought back from the brink. He was the living example of how the worst of people can be transformed by the power of God’s grace if they sincerely come to God and seek to be transformed by God’s love. We must be careful not to limit or doubt God’s power to transform and renew the worst of persons in our eyes.
Fourthly, Paul makes the declaration that Jesus is the Saviour of all sinners. That certainly was his experience. The question is, what is your declaration? What do you say to the world about your faith in God? The problem with the world, I feel, is that there are too many silent or quiet Christians. We are not declaring loudly and proudly enough where we stand regarding our faith. We live at a time when for many, especially young people, being Christian and saying it and living it out seems old-fashioned. It is the thing for my grandparents, it is the thing for old people. So many feel perhaps ashamed or embarrassed to acknowledge and declare who God is to them. Some would even say that it’s just not the topic of conversation for certain classes of people. It is something that some classes look down on or ridicule. Can we, like Paul, stand proudly to say by word and action who Jesus is to us? Without that, our claim to being Christian is fake. For too many Christians, their words say one thing but their actions say another. Is it that many of us have not yet aligned our public declaration with our daily living? Are we really people who are confidently aware of what Jesus has done for us? If so, we must say it out loud and show it proudly and unashamedly in our daily lives.
Fifthly, Paul recognises that God alone should receive all honour and praise from humanity. It may seem so obvious for us as believers but I wonder if we ever stop to think how many things we have done or said or how many people we have praised or elevated in such a way that they were more esteemed in our eyes than even God. Who are our heroes? Who are the people we look up to and feel that they more than anyone else can save the world? They have the power to transform our lives in significant ways. Do we end up glorifying the human instead of the God who created those persons? Let’s seriously think about the people or things we put on a pedestal in our hearts and in our lives. Do we give human beings more praise than God? Do they get more adulation and devotion from us than we do to God? Think about it. We may be surprised.
Paul’s experience of God’s grace gave his life a new and far more fulfilling meaning and purpose. He was truly a new man. Similarly, anyone who appreciates God’s life-changing power in their lives is a new person. How has your life changed because of God’s mercy and grace on you? Are you the transformed person that you ought to be? Many people are walking on this earth and even leave this life without finding true meaning and purpose. Many of us don’t recognise that life’s true purpose can only be found in commitment and devotion to God. It is a life of love for God that has real purpose. It doesn’t really matter what we achieve in this life or how much we have gained. It doesn’t matter how famous or noteworthy we become even if roads and buildings or places are named in recognition of our achievements or worldly contributions. What really matters is how purpose-driven our lives have been, and our lives cannot find true meaning and purpose outside of an acknowledgement of God’s grace and a commitment to God from a grateful heart. May we go from here to find that true purpose that God has placed us on this earth for. It really is not too difficult. It is a life driven by a deep commitment to honouring God in everything that we do, recognising that ultimately our lives are in his hands. At the end of the day we are what we are because of the grace of God. Amen.