1 Timothy 1:12-17 (Contemporary English Version) I thank Christ Jesus our Lord. He has given me the strength for my work because he knew that he could trust me. I used to say terrible and insulting things about him, and I was cruel. But he had mercy on me because I didn't know what I was doing, and I had not yet put my faith in him. Christ Jesus our Lord was very kind to me. He has greatly blessed my life with faith and love just like his own. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." This saying is true, and it can be trusted. I was the worst sinner of all! But since I was worse than anyone else, God had mercy on me and let me be an example of the endless patience of Christ Jesus. He did this so that others would put their faith in Christ and have eternal life. I pray that honor and glory will always be given to the only God, who lives forever and is the invisible and eternal King! Amen.
In spite of all I have done, in spite of where I have been, Jesus knowing everything about me, all of my dark secrets, He loved me and gave Himself for me. I cannot imagine where I would be if not for His saving grace. I have known Jesus as my Savoir since I was 5 years old, but that does not mean that I haven’t been tempted and even fell in to sin. I knew Him as my Savior therefore I was able to resist some temptations and those that I succumbed to I received forgiveness for when I repented and turned from the sin. If you are thinking about what sin I could have committed, I’ll tell you it doesn’t matter. Any sin at all still would have made it necessary for Jesus to hang on the cross. There are no lighter sins than others, sin is sin. We have a tendency to grade sin, placing a value to the sin. Had Jesus not died for us then even something like disobeying a traffic light would cause us to be bound for hell. But praise Jesus we have forgiveness available for our sins. If we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, then we repent of our sins, then He is faithful and just to forgive us. Then our sin is cast as far as the east is from the west, never to be remembered by our Heavenly Father. From that point we should not repeat that sin and release His forgiveness in our lives, as He forgave us then we should forgive. Ain’t God good. His perfect plan for us is awesome.
Love and God Bless,
Cindy Irwin
