Today, I am reading and commenting on 1 Timothy 1-4.

Paul begins by telling us that Jesus came into the world to save sinners and displays His patience to all sinners by showing mercy to Paul.  Paul’s message here is similar to the way in which Luke records Jesus responding when confronted by the Pharisees over socializing with sinners.  Another passage which gives us insight into this message is when Peter did not want to let Jesus wash his feet.  Jesus came to save us because we are sinners, and here Paul is reminding us, by using himself as an example, that it is not our righteousness which qualifies us to tell others about God’s saving grace.  Rather, our qualification for telling others that God loves them and has redeemed them is the very sins we are often too embarrassed to share.  Paul was qualified to be an apostle sent to tell people about Jesus’ love and willingness to accept all who turn to Him because of his sins.  In the same way, it is our sins, which God has forgiven and turned us away from, which qualify us to call others to Christ.  No matter how bad they are, we are no better.  If we think we are better than anyone else, we have not truly understood the depth of our depravity without Christ.

When I started to write this I intended to go on to other things in this passage.  But I am going to add just one more thing: once again in today’s passage, Paul calls us to pray.  I know that I am being repeatedly shown Paul writing about prayer because I need to work on my prayer life.  Perhaps some of you, my readers are as well.  Let us commit ourselves to working on praying more.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.