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12 I give praise to him who gave me power, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he took me to be true, making me his servant,13 Though I had said violent words against God, and done cruel acts, causing great trouble: but I was given mercy, because I did it without knowledge, not having faith; 14 And the grace of our Lord was very great, with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a true saying, in which all may put their faith, that Christ Jesus came into the world to give salvation to sinners, of whom I am the chief: 16 But for this reason I was given mercy, so that in me, the chief of sinners, Jesus Christ might make clear all his mercy, as an example to those who in the future would have faith in him to eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, ever-living, unseen, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. So be it. (1 Timothy 1:12-17 BBE)
There are many things we shall come to know when the time is right. The other day I mentioned Jesus' conversation with Saul of Tarsus and today I think about what Jesus wrote in the sand when men were ready to stone the woman caught in adultery. What did Jesus write? What words made the angry mob of men ready to stone this woman? Was it a single word or several or two, or several that connected with the heart of those men that made they drop their stones and walk away without "fulfilling the law." Was there another woman's name on the list that made one or more of those angry men blush with shame? Or did Jesus start a list with names that reminded the men of their sin?
There's the old story of little Johnny who accidentally killed his grandma's favorite goose. His older sister, Becky, saw the whole thing and told him so. Johnny saddened by this accidental killing asked her to please not tell their grandma. "It will cost you," she smugly replied. "What?" Johnny asked in tears. "You must do the dishes every time it is my turn." "Sure," said Johnny glad that he could keep hidden his sin from his dear grandmother. At the end of the week, having done twice the number of turns he normally took at washing the dishes, his grandmother asked, him what he had done that he was under Becky's control now. He sobbingly confessed his sin and the grandmother replied with love, that she knew but it was not a reason to be under the control of anyone, especially his sister. And her grace ended Becky's control over him.
Paul had his own list as he lists in verse 13, here in the NRSV: " I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence." But he was shown mercy each time, having acted out as a man without faith in Jesus; Jesus' grace was bigger than his sins. Paul's words here are breathtaking in their honesty and humility. This is the same Paul who planted churches across the known world, wrote much of the New Testament, and suffered beatings, imprisonment, and shipwreck for the gospel. Yet he doesn't call himself the greatest apostle or the most faithful servant. He calls himself "the foremost" of sinners—the chief, the worst, the most notorious.
This isn't false modesty or spiritual self-flagellation. Paul is making a profound theological point about the nature of grace. The very person who might seem most qualified to earn God's favor declares himself most unworthy of it. The man who accomplished more for the kingdom than perhaps anyone declares that mercy, not merit, is the foundation of his relationship with God.
Yet Christ didn't just forgive Paul—He appointed him to service. He didn't just pardon him—He empowered him. He didn't just save him—He made him an apostle. This is grace that doesn't just cover sin but transforms the sinner into a servant, the persecutor into a preacher, the enemy into an ambassador.
Paul's story reveals something stunning about how God works: He doesn't just recruit the naturally good or the already religious. He specializes in taking the most unlikely candidates and making them His most powerful witnesses.
"I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence." Paul doesn't minimize his past. He was actively working against God, hunting down Christians, breathing threats and murder against the church.
If you've ever thought you're too messed up for God, Paul's story is your invitation to think again. If Paul—who dragged Christians from their homes and watched Stephen die—can become an apostle, then your past doesn't determine your future. If God can use the chief of sinners to spread the gospel across the Roman Empire, He can use you too.
Paul's testimony shatters our categories of who's worthy and who's not. It demolishes the myth that God only uses the naturally good or the lifelong faithful. Instead, it reveals a God who delights in taking broken vessels and filling them with His glory, who loves to write straight with crooked lines.
Your failures don't disqualify you—they might actually be your greatest qualification for experiencing and sharing God's grace.
Paul's reflection on God's mercy naturally flows into worship: "To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." When you truly grasp what grace has done for you, worship becomes inevitable.
Paul piles up descriptive phrases—King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God—as if no single title could capture the majesty of the One who showed him mercy. This isn't casual appreciation; it's overwhelming gratitude that spills over into adoration.
The deeper our understanding of our own sinfulness, the higher our appreciation of God's grace. The more clearly we see what we deserved, the more amazed we become at what we received.
Paul's testimony challenges us to live with the same kind of radical humility and overwhelming gratitude. If Paul—the accomplished apostle—could call himself the chief of sinners, what does that say about our own need for grace? If Paul—with all his ministry success—could trace everything back to mercy, how much more should we?
This perspective transforms how we relate to others. When you truly believe you're the chief of sinners saved by grace, you can't look down on anyone else's sin. When you know you're an example of God's utmost patience, you become patient with others who are still on their journey toward Him.
Paul's story also encourages us to see our past differently. Your worst moments don't have to be your defining moments. Your greatest failures might become the foundation for your most powerful testimony. The places where you've experienced the most grace might be where you're most equipped to offer grace to others.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for Paul's honest testimony that reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of Your grace. Thank You that You didn't come to save the naturally good but sinners—of whom we all are foremost in our own understanding. Help us to have Paul's humility that sees our constant need for mercy, and Paul's gratitude that responds to grace with worship. When we're tempted to think our past disqualifies us from Your service, remind us that You specialize in using the most unlikely vessels for Your glory. To You, the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever, in Christ Jesus' strong name we pray, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, reflect honestly on your own story of grace—how has God shown "utmost patience" with you, and how might your testimony encourage someone else who feels beyond redemption? Consider sharing your story of God's transforming mercy with someone who needs to hear that no one is too far gone for His love.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
