1 Timothy 1:14-17 (TPT)
“I was flooded with such incredible grace, like a river overflowing its banks, until I was full of faith and love for Jesus, the Anointed One! I can testify that the Word is true and deserves to be received by all, for Jesus Christ came into the world to bring sinners back to life—even me, the worst sinner of all! Yet I was captured by grace, so that Jesus Christ could display through me the outpouring of his Spirit as a pattern to be seen for all those who would believe in him for eternal life. Because of this my praises rise to the King of all the universe who is indestructible, invisible, and full of glory, the only God who is worthy of the highest honors throughout all of time and throughout the eternity of eternities! Amen!“
If we’ve been saved for a really long time, we can forget how far we’ve come. We can fall into the trap of diminishing the grace of God in our lives. We can forget how bad our sin really was. Paul is telling Timothy here how great God’s grace truly is! We are flooded by grace when we realize how much of a sinner we really are and how God loved us, even when we were in this state. It was all grace. We did not do anything to deserve God’s love. We didn’t do anything to deserve salvation and redemption. We didn’t do anything to deserve restoration or relationship.
But God loved us when we were still His enemy! He poured his grace out on us until it flooded us and drew us to Himself. When we truly take the time to contemplate all that God has done for us for no other reason than He loves us, our praises should ring out like Paul’s. We have reason to rejoice and to praise the Lord because of His great love for us, His grace, and His unmerited favor. He is the only God worthy of the highest honors throughout all time and all eternity!
Father, thank you for your unmerited favor and your outpouring of grace! You loved me even when I was a sinner, even when I was your enemy. You looked through eternity and saw me. Thank you for pouring your grace out on me until it flooded every part of me and made me realize how desperately I need you! I do not deserve your favor. I don’t deserve your kindness, your mercy, your blessings or your grace. But you give anyway…not because of what I’ve done, but because of who You are! You are a great God. You are a kind and loving heavenly Father. You deserve all honor and glory forever and ever! No other God loves the way that You love. Thank you for it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
A Beautiful Mess 