Some different thoughts

Karen and I are in the states because our oldest daughter will have a baby in the next few days. We were worshiping with our family at Levy in North Little Rock this past Sunday. One of my good friends Clark stood up and shared some thoughts with us before we ate together to remember our Savior at the Lord’s Supper. He shared with us an interesting thought. Normally when someone has some words to share about Jesus before we eat the bread and drink the fruit of the vine together, these words will center on Jesus’ death burial and resurrection. This time Clark challenged each of us to take our Bibles out and open, randomly, to some text in the New Testament. It was his idea that in most places that we would open our Bibles to there would be a scripture that would reveal something that would bring alive the celebration that we were getting ready to participate in together. He said that if the first section didn’t directly take us back to what we were celebrating together, that very nearby reading would.
I was game. I opened my Bible and my eyes fell on I Timothy 1 and I read vs. 12-17…
1Ti 1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
1Ti 1:13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
1Ti 1:14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
1Ti 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
1Ti 1:16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
1Ti 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
For me this section of scripture became very precious as I thought about how thankful I am for Jesus and all that he has done for me. As we ate this ‘meal’ together, as Jesus had said, doing this in remembrance of Him… I thought this scripture that I had randomly turned to just came alive for me while having this time with my brothers and sisters. Paul is writing to his son in Faith, Timothy. He is sharing with him how thankful he is to God through Jesus for all the blessings he has received through Christ. Look at his words used to describe how he was feeling… mercy, grace, faith, love… in Christ Jesus. Paul lived everyday remembering that his earlier life as a religious man meant that he sought out people of the Way and hurt them and put them in prison. Paul’s focus was not just on his shortcomings and failures of his earlier life… although he did not forget his past, his focus was on what Jesus had done for him in spite of his past. Paul said that Jesus had shown him mercy… giving him forgiveness for what he had done. Yea, we need that. Through Jesus Paul received grace… the forgiveness of his sins, past, present and future. Yea, we need that. He emphasized that these blessings are ‘poured out abundantly’ on him… and on us. Yea, we need that. Faith and love come through Jesus Christ along with this grace. What a wonderful message! As I reflect back on what these emblems that we ate and drank together represent… Christ giving his life, body and blood as a sacrifice for all men so that we could come to the father, I was truly humbled and thankful. I am once again reminded of how reading God’s word over and over never gets old. We just come to a deeper understanding of who our Father is and how much He loves us.