The Beautiful Diamond

1 Timothy 1:16 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.   In writing this, it seems as though Paul knew his life would be used as an example years down the road.  Many say he is the greatest sinner that turned into the greatest saint.  Because in verse 15 he mentioned he was the chief of sinners, he admits he needed mercy and that Christ was patient through it all.  Paul's preconversion life showed that although Christ was sorrowful for the death of His followers, He still didn't give up on the hard hearted man.  Because of the example that Christ showed through Paul, we have been shown that we must give mercy to those who don't deserve it (for we have been given it ourselves) as well as the patience through the hurtful and painful times.  If we continue in this way, those who are on the edge of believing may see our l...

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into to save sinners, of whom I am chief. When it seems like everything is falling down around our ears, when life is so different from how it use to be, when our world is turned upside down, there is one truth we can hold onto.  This is something that will stand true till the end of time.  It needs not be questioned, for it will hold true in all circumstances.  This is that Jesus came to earth to SAVE sinners.  He didn't come to show how much better He was than us, He didn't come down to put those who do wrong into a cruel punishment, He came to save those which was lost.  We have all sinned (Romans 3:23) and deserve the worst Hell has to offer.  But God in all His love and mercy decided we needed a way out.  He sent Jesus to pay our debt that we may be saved.  When we accept Him as Savior, He washes away our: lies, backstabbing, hate, shame, pri...

1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. As Paul explained in the previous verse that he wasn't good enough on his own.  It took divine intervention for the undeserved from the One who had power over everything.  Not only did He supply enough grace to cover the moment, but He gave an extremely ample supply of grace.  So much so that there is nothing that is not covered by it, no matter how old we live nor how many wrongs we do, there is a surpassing amount of grace.   This concept is greater than we can imagine, so it takes both faith and love to accept it.  Faith because sometimes we think that what we have done is too horrible for God to forgive.  We think that when we keep falling into the same traps of sin, that God has given up at our persistent disobedience.  This is not the case.  God is faithful to His promise that our sins are removed from us (Psalm 103:12). ...

1 Timothy 1:13 although I was formally a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. Although Paul didn't live and meet up to what most could call a "potential Christian", he still was able to receive mercy because all he did was believe... no strings attached.  When we are wronged, we need to realize that those who are doing so don't have the convictions about the actions they take as we do who represent the Kingdom of God (2 Corinthians 5:20).  We must do as God did with us, give them mercy especially with their unbelief.  This is something I am still working on.  A lot of the people I deal with on a regular basis are lost, when they offend me whether on purpose or unintentionally, I must remember that it is I who is held to a higher standard not they.  When I show I'm upset, sometimes the statement, "I thought she was a Christian" or "Christians are suppose to forgive everything...