The Joy of Glory

1 Timothy 1:12-17 (click here)
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

Reflection
Why was I saved?

That is a question we would all do well to ponder. In a sense, there is no answer. God did not save any of us because of something in us. He didn’t save us because we were smart, good looking, or deserving in any way.

Yet…in another sense there are many answers. He saved us for many reasons in him. He saved us to the praise of his glorious grace, to display his great mercy and love, to bring us into eternal joy in him.

As a much older apostle Paul is imprisoned with much time to ponder…this is one of the things he thinks about…why was I saved?

Among many reasons, Paul highlights one for us to think on…he was saved as an example of God’s great mercy. Paul says that there is no sinner worse than himself, for her persecuted the very church of God. Therefore, God saved him as an example to you and to me that there is no one beyond the grace of God.

Jesus Christ is perfectly patient in his pursuit of us! Paul is declaring to our hearts… “Do you think you are too far gone for God to save? Just look at me! No one has ever been more “far gone” than me! I didn’t just rebel, I tried to put an end to the church! Did you try that? I didn’t think so! If Jesus is patient enough in his mercy to save me…he is gracious enough to save you!”

Why were you and I saved?

One reason is simply to be an example to the world of how great the grace of God is! That he would save a sinner like me is a display of his infinite grace!

We have been saved to the praise of his glorious grace!

*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

Ephesians 4:1-16 (click here)
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Reflection
What does it mean to walk in a manner worthy of our calling?

This sounds like the language of earning or meriting something. We need to work hard to be worthy of being a Christian. Is that what this means? I don’t think so. There’s another way to see it.

When someone comes to visit our home, we often spend time cleaning before they arrive. Why? Are we trying to earn the right for them to come over? Are we trying to be worthy of their presence? No. They’re already committed to come. Our cleaning says something about their worth and we want the cleanliness of our home to say something about how we value them.

Likewise, we have already been called by Christ to be his people. We do not make ourselves worthy to receive that calling… we walk in a manner that displays the worth of the calling we have already received. In other words, Jesus is already coming to the house of our lives…and the transformation of our lives displays his worth!

We long to live in a manner that displays the worth of the King of kings and Lord of lords who has called us as his own!

How do we do that? We do it by walking in unity with other believers. We love Christ the groom by loving his bride. This is the way we display our love for Christ, whom the world cannot see, in a visible manner.

Jesus has empowers us to love one another, to be humble, gentle, patient, and bear with on another in love. When we do this, we are putting his power and his worth on display to the world!

Paul goes on throughout Ephesians 4 to lay out exactly the manner in which Jesus works his empowering grace into our lives so that we may live in this powerful, peaceful way as part of his church. He has given us the gift of his Word, expounded by the gift of teachers. In this way, he works to equip his church, mature his church, and grow his church.

Through the teaching of the Word we are equipped for the work of ministry…both within the church and before the world!

*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.