The Reflecting God - WordAction - The Nazarene Publishing House [The Foundry Publishing House] in Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Monday, 17 July 20917 "Fully Accepted" by Cynthia Stiverson - 1 Timothy 1:1-17

The Reflecting God - WordAction - The Nazarene Publishing House [The Foundry Publishing House] in Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Monday, 17 July 20917 "Fully Accepted" by Cynthia Stiverson - 1 Timothy 1:1-17

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1 Timothy 1:1 From: Sha’ul, an emissary of the Messiah Yeshua by command of God our deliverer and the Messiah Yeshua our hope,

2 To: Timothy, a true son because of your trust:

Grace, mercy and shalom from God the Father and the Messiah Yeshua our Lord.

3 As I counseled you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus, so that you may order certain people who are teaching a different doctrine to stop. 4 Have them stop devoting their attention to myths and never-ending genealogies; these divert people to speculating instead of doing God’s work, which requires trust. 5 The purpose of this order is to promote love from a clean heart, from a good conscience and from sincere trust. 6 Some, by aiming amiss, have wandered off into fruitless discussion. 7 They want to be teachers of Torah, but they understand neither their own words nor the matters about which they make such emphatic pronouncements. 8 We know that the Torah is good, provided one uses it in the way the Torah itself intends. 9 We are aware that Torah is not for a person who is righteous, but for those who are heedless of Torah and rebellious, ungodly and sinful, wicked and worldly, for people who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral — both heterosexual and homosexual — slave dealers, liars, perjurers, and anyone who acts contrary to the sound teaching 11 that accords with the Good News of the glorious and blessed God.

This Good News was entrusted to me; 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.

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One might think Paul’s introduction to his First letter to his protégé Timothy lacks grandeur when he whittles the purpose statement of Christ down to “a trustworthy saying” (1 Timothy 1:15). Yet, he draws us with two short phrases that serve as bookends, framing the profound statement he proclaims, “Christ came . . . to save sinners.” Paul demands that this trustworthy saying “deserves” our “full acceptance”. He then grips our heart by adding, “I am the worst” of sinners. When we read that phrase, we cannot help but examine our motives, “Have I fully accepted Christ?”
What does full acceptance look like? It's the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well, and walked through town shamelessly proclaiming, "He told me everything I ever did!" (John 4:39).

It’s the prodigal son, who rehearsed his homecoming speech from the pigpen, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:17-19). It was a speech the son never spoke, because he was fully accepted. You are fully accepted. Christ Jesus deserves our full acceptance, because we—the worst of sinners—have been fully accepted by Him.
"Just As I Am" by Charlotte Elliot

1. Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

2. Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

3. Just as I am, though tossed about

With many a conflict, many a doubt,

Fightings and fears within, without,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

4. Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;

Sight, riches, healing of the mind,

Yea, all I need in Thee to find,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

5. Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

Because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

6. Just as I am, Thy love unknown

Hath broken every barrier down;

Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Thought for Today:

So welcome each other, just as the Messiah has welcomed you into God’s glory.[Romans 15:7]

Please pray:

For faculty and students as they prepare for full-time Christian ministry in Mozambique.
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