Wednesday after the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on September 13, 2023 by under
Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-17 (NKJV)
1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Devotion
The Apostle Paul has not attributed his ministry to anything other than the kindness and mercy of Jesus Christ, our Lord. That seems like an obvious thing to acknowledge. Most of us would say that the Lord deserves all the glory, but rarely do we employ that in our lives. We witness so many who take credit for success in ministry, or even in daily vocations. That is not to say that people do not work hard in these tasks and vocations.
However, the Apostle Paul cannot even think of his part in furtherance of the Gospel without exalting the Lord, and giving Jesus Christ the glory above all. We see why Paul feels this way as he says, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”
When we begin to understand the depths of sin from which Jesus Christ has saved us, we start to confess as Paul did, knowing that “I am the chief of sinners, and yet Jesus died for me.” Once a person understands the greatness of the mercy of Christ in saving a poor sinner, then it follows that He will get all the glory and honor, even in our labors for Him.
Collect: Keep, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy Church with Thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without Thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by Thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
