Morning Message Text: 1 Timothy 1: 12-17
The Lord’s Grace to Paul
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.
13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Morning Message:
How do we see ourselves? This question has become very popular in today’s post-modern society. It might sound more like this when you hear it out in the world: What do you identify as? With what pronouns do you describe yourself? Most of us, myself included, would be totally confused if we were ask that question. First, I would have to be reminded what a pronoun is. Sorry, it has been to long since I had to know the proper English grammar terms, so it would take me a moment. Secondly, what? Did I just land on another planet where there a human species that was not a man or a woman? Ok, I get it; it’s a game, right. Maybe we are playing make believe and I can choose to pretend that I am something that I am not. No, that’s not it; this is something very serious; we are being asked to see people according to how they feel about themselves. Now I am not completely opposed to this line of thinking. I would love for people to see me the way that I want to be seen. I know that in reality I am a very overweight person, but in my mind, most times I think of myself as that very fit teenager who had no physical limitations. I know better, but that’s what my mind’s eye wants to see. I wish that I could make everyone else see me that way, but I can’t make people see something different than what is there. There is a term that I jokingly use for my condition, but I will keep that to myself, unless, in private, you want to hear it. Most preachers are smart enough not to bring this to the pulpit. I don’t work for most preachers, and I do not bend to the will of any denomination when it conflicts with the Word of God. Galatians 6: 7 says: Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. Mock: to challenge or defy, to treat with ridicule or contempt. God’s word says: that he made us in his image, male and female.
How does God see us? We just stated that he sees us as male or female. We know that according to scripture God sees us as his creation, made in his image, and at the same time recognizes that we are fallen creatures, sinful by nature. In the letter to the Romans Paul says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” God sees us in many ways, but I believe that he sees us as a loving parent would view something or someone very precious to them. In the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus tells us that God sees us as sheep that he is responsible for. He does distinguish between those who are safe or saved, and one that is lost. Here is where we, the church of Jesus Christ needs to return to: the simple plan of salvation. It makes no difference to God whether this is a male sheep or a female sheep. The only identity that God sees (and the only one that we should see) is a lost sheep. When I hear people struggling with who they are or with how they want to be perceived or identified, I see a lost soul, a sheep that has wondered away from the flock. As a church this is what we should be focusing on. This world is evil and right now it belongs to the devil. The devil is hard at work filling the minds of all who will listen with his lies. Satan is perfectly happy to see the world totally focused on who they really are instead of what God has called them to be, and it is all evil.
In the parable of the lost coin, (By the way these parables are in Luke 15: 1-10; please after worship, take the time to read them.) a woman is searching for a coin that is missing. Notice that it doesn’t say how large or small the coin is; it doesn’t say how much it is worth; it is simply one of ten. It doesn’t matter to God who it is; he doesn’t put more or less importance upon this lost soul depending on human worth; he goes to great trouble to find what is lost, to seek and to save. This is the attitude that the church, you and I, should have. This is what is missing, and we know it. What will we do about it? I asked myself and I am asking you, “What is more egregious to God, ignoring the truth, being ignorant of his call on our lives, or knowing exactly what he wants us to do and refusing?”
In our scripture for today Paul calls himself the worst sinner. Hopefully, we know the work that Paul did for the Lord: his many mission trips and all the sacrifices he made for the gospel of Jesus Christ. We know that he was tortured, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and eventually killed for his faith, yet he considered himself the worst sinner. Where does that leave us? Do you know why Paul didn’t get all tied up in his identity, who he was, or who he thought he was? It was because he considered himself nothing, and left his identity in God’s hands. The only identity that matters in this world is whether or not you are a child of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. Who is the worst sinner that ever lived? That doesn’t matter. All that matters is: Have your sins been forgiven?
In Christ’s Love and Peace,
Pastor Bob
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