2006-07-16 Communion Dedication – Baldwin Christian Church

In this passage, Paul gives us a pattern to follow as we meditate at the Lord’s Table.

1 Timothy 1:12-17 

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The pattern of this devotion begins with thanksgiving (v12).  Paul was a man who had reached a certain place in the road, a place and time of life where everything suddenly changed (Acts 9).  What changed him?   For the first time in his life, he began to understand who Jesus really is.  He reached that point in his life where he could no longer keep his fingers in his ears, where he could no longer deny the Lord’s calling.

Paul is a great example for anyone tempted to give-in to feelings of self-doubt, of unworthiness.  He measured the Lord’s mercy toward him in terms like, “exceeding abundant”.  He counted himself as the number-one sinner, one who enjoyed watching a Christian being put to death (Acts 7:54 - 8:3), and yet the Lord’s mercy even exceeded the amount Paul thought was necessary.  He regretted his past, but he realized that grace, faith and love in Christ Jesus were more than sufficient for him. 

I can still hear the same old lies in my mind; “You need to get your life all straightened out before you start going to church, because those people will judge you”, and then, after I learned that one wasn’t true, my mind started saying, “You are not worthy of serving in the church, and you know it.  Just stick with what you know, and let others handle the work of the church”.  Notice in verse 12 that Paul gave Jesus all the credit for his strength.  Jesus is the One who enabled Paul to start all those churches and write 14 books of the New Testament.  Jesus is the One who counted Paul as someone who can be trusted.  Jesus is the One who called Paul to better things.  Jesus is the only One who would never leave or forsake Paul.

Paul is an excellent example.