"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Wednesday, 7 September 2016 with Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Wednesday, 7 September 2016
with Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
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1 Timothy 1:12 and I thank the one who has given me strength, the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord, that he considered me trustworthy enough to put me in his service, 13 even though I used to be a man who blasphemed and persecuted and was arrogant! But I received mercy because I had acted in unbelief, not understanding what I was doing. 14 Our Lord’s grace overflowed to me with trust and love that come through the Messiah Yeshua. 15 So here is a statement you can trust, one that fully deserves to be accepted: the Messiah came into the world to save sinners, and I’m the number one sinner! 16 But this is precisely why I received mercy — so that in me, as the number one sinner, Yeshua the Messiah might demonstrate how very patient he is, as an example to those who would later come to trust in him and thereby have eternal life. 17 So to the King — eternal, imperishable and invisible, the only God there is — let there be honor and glory for ever and ever! Amen.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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The author of this letter, traditionally ascribed to the Apostle Paul, shares his understanding of being a recipient of God's grace: "The grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus" (verse 14). In fact the author believes himself to be among the worst of the sinners and thus in even more desperate need of God's grace. I have a hunch that most of us have a hard time relating to the idea of being among the worst of sinners. It seems pretty easy to look around and see others who "seem so much worse!" The readings for this week, more so than in many weeks, seem to inform one another. They prod us to ponder how God's grace overflows even in the midst of and despite our own sin.
O God of overflowing grace, we give you praise and thanks for your love and forgiveness. Amen.
Peggy Paugh Leuzinger, '88
Rivers of Faith Lutheran Parish, Livingston and Wilsall, Mont. 
1 Timothy 1:12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service,
13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,
14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the foremost.
16 But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.
17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.[New Revised Standard Version]
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