God’s model should be our standard

Scripture Read: 1 Timothy 1:15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. ¹⁶ Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

Application: Paul, after making it clear that he was the worst sinner he can think of, he shares with us the incredible truth of how long suffering, merciful and forgiving Christ is using himself as the example. Paul is loved by believers of all ages because we see what he became, but how would we feel toward Paul if he had not turned into who we know because of Christ? What do you think Stephen’s parents and friends thought of Paul when he was still Saul? (Read Acts 9:13, 26) What did the Lord Jesus Christ feel when He watched this man Saul kill many of our Lord’s brothers and sisters? Those that had trusted in His saving grace, picked up their crosses and followed Him, only to be tortured and put to death by this Pharisee. What do I feel toward those that murdered 3000 people in the twin towers for their cause? On my own I can tell you frankly it is not love! Father, I do not possess within myself the capacity to love people like that. If they repent, come to Christ and become new creatures, I have no problem when I meet them, to forget their past and loving them as brothers and sisters. I have experienced this many times while working in the prison, meeting men that had done terrible things before they came into a relationship with You. I had no problem expressing love to them, not thinking of what they use to be like at all. Your love Father is different than that! You love NOW! Just as we are. Not after we become lovable, but even while we are in rebellion and even when we attack You! (Acts 9:4-5) You have made it clear Lord, no one is beyond Your mercy! Lord, I want to love them as You do, before their change.  Paul makes it clear that he is the example of Your love:

Demonstrate: ἐνδείκνυμι endeíknumi; from en, in, to, and deíknumi, to show. To point out or show in anything.  (Sept.: Josh. 7:14ff.). In the NT used in the mid. endeíknumai, to show forth, to manifest in connection with anything relating to or depending on oneself

Perfect: ἅπας hápas; from háma, together, and pás, all, but stronger than the basic pás. In 1 Tim. 1:16 we have hápasan makrothumían, The literal translation would be “the all long–suffering.” Long–suffering is not exactly the same as patience. Long–suffering is one’s attitude toward humans while patience (hupomonḗ ) is one’s enduring attitude toward things and circumstances. Paul refers to the demonstration of Christ’s long–suffering, first of all to Paul as a great sinner and then to all humanity. In Christ’s long–suffering we have the ultimate demonstration of long–suffering, all of the virtue in its various aspects fully demonstrated. The adj. “all” here should be taken as the virtue in all its inclusiveness, therefore, the ultimate long–suffering.

Example: ὑποτύπωσις hupotúpōsis; to draw a sketch or first draft as painters when they begin a picture. A delineation, sketch, concise representation or form; a pattern, example  ^[1]

Thank You Lord for making Your long-suffering the standard of love for us to follow. You showed such long-suffering toward Paul as a pattern of Your love toward all mankind! In spite of all those that deny Your existence, mock You, falsely accuse You of being unloving because there is sin in the world, or belittle our belief in You as a mere superstition, the fantasy of immature people that can’t face that we are nothing more than a cosmic accident. It is not worth listing all the many ways people have demeaned You because, You still…STILL extend mercy and grace to anyone that will come. Oh my God please fill us with the same kind of love and long-suffering You have!

Meditation Questions: Do you think there is anyone that cannot be saved? Are there people you know that do not deserve to be forgiven? Does anyone deserve to be forgiven? When you meet someone, how much does their past impact your feelings toward them? What does that say? How much grace and mercy do you think extended to you? How much are you willing to do the same for others? What does that say?

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^[1] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.