Christ's Representatives

I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful,
appointing me to the ministry – one who was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But
I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord overflowed, along
with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance:
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this
reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary patience as an
example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the
only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. [1Tim 1:12-17]
I recently began a personal study in Paul’s first letter to Timothy. And I noticed something that I
had never noticed before. Paul was writing to young Timothy, his protégé…his child (son) in the
faith. Paul is Timothy’s mentor and in Timothy’s eyes, Paul is his hero. Timothy greatly admired
and highly respected Paul. There is nothing in any of Paul’s writings or in the Acts narrative that
communicates that Timothy ever resisted anything Paul told him to do. I’m reminded of our
Savior and how when He walked this earth, He was submissive to everything His Father
required of Him…even in that garden, as He agonized over that cup He was required to drink.
But back to Paul. It never struck me before how Paul so minimized and humbled himself as he
wrote to his protégé – I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. I chose to
use the Holman translation because of how it is so relevantly detailed in how Paul described
himself to his son in the faith. But Paul’s not done yet. He also declares – I am the worst of all
sinners. Some translations say – the foremost; others say – the chief. You cannot be anymore
transparent than that. In so many words, Paul is saying – Timothy, I am the least likely to
receive God’s grace and be forgiven. But I did…and I was…and here’s why – so that Christ Jesus
might “display” His extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him
for eternal life.
Amazing! To Timothy, Jesus was and is the greatest. Right after Jesus, came Paul. Timothy had
so much respect, honor and love for Paul. And Paul knew this. Still, he writes these humbling
words. Did Paul know that this letter to Timothy would go viral? Did he know that God would
breathe Spiritual life into this writing just as HE breathed life into Adam when he was but dust of
the earth [Gen 2:7]? What can we glean from all of this? Without Christ, we too are the chief of
all sinners. But God, like He did with Paul, chose to shower His transforming grace onto us.
As I continued to meditate on this passage, I then thought of Timothy and his perspective. Paul
seemed to be greatly minimizing himself and making himself to be lesser in Timothy’s eyes. But
let’s not forget that this student was a man of God, educated in the Old Testament Scriptures by
both his mother and grandmother; and personally instructed and trained and mentored by Paul
himself. What Paul shared with Timothy must have only raised him up even more in his eyes.
Here is challenge for each of us (who are in Christ) – Let’s allow The Spirit of God to personally
prepare us to be His representatives here on earth. Let’s allow Him to bring us to the place to
where He can entrust us with the power of His Spirit. That transforming power is not just in the
Words we read or even in the words we may speak. Others must see and experience the power
of God as we speak and model God’s grace to them, just as the apostle Paul did here with
Timothy. As we take the time to read God’s Word, let’s not allow ourselves to become puffed up
with the knowledge of what God says [1Cor 8:1]. Like Paul, let’s humble ourselves and become
more committed to being Christ’s representatives here or earth. Let’s commit to learning more
and more how to ‘know’ and experience the power of God’s Spirit within us. Let’s learn how not
to allow ourselves to become and remain more influenced by people’s perspectives of us than
we are of God’s perspective. Let’s learn more how to allow the power of God to overwhelm us to
where all we want to do is lift Him up and not ourselves.
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
A Shepherd's Muse





