Worst of the Worst (Paul and His Service)

If a foreigner...a known terrorist that had killed westerners...came up to one of our churches this morning claiming he had recieved salvation and wanted to speak to the congregation...How many would give him the time of day, much less let him speak??

How many would miss out on the Apostle Paul speaking today??

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the worst sinner of all." -1 Timothy 1:15

This is Paul speaking!! A guy who wrote a great deal of the New Testament...A man who feverently spread Christianity in a time when that word got you killed...A man who brought people back to life, exorcised demons, healed the sick, and suffered repeatedly for his faith!!

BUT...He also was a guy who hunted down, captured, and reportedly even KILLED Christians before finding salvation on the road to Damascus.

You see...in these series of verses, Paul speaks about how he walked a terrible path before and Jesus is using him as an example of both God's patience with all of us AND the fact that salvation is 100% cleansing of all past deeds!!

Now...I, myself, LOVE this...as many of you can imagine. LOL...But it's true!! Thankfully God had enough patience to see me through my twisted path and into the light.

It is our human nature to judge people based on their past actions. Every one of us struggle with this...even though each of us hate when it has happens to us. But the fact is...People DO change with Gods help. And that change is often QUICK and RADICAL...making it even more skeptical!! But it happens. Thank God it happens!!

Thanks for reading!!

Love your neighbor as yourself. Period!!