1 Timothy 1:16 "Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting."
Longsuffering...an amazing word...and perfectly descriptive of our God. It means forbearance, patience, constancy, perseverance, and even to be slow in avenging wrongdoing! Paul had stated in verse 15 that he was the chief of sinners. He had been a Pharisee...one who lived by the law and upheld it. He had been schooled under a man named Gamaliel...who was the leader of the Sanhedrin...the Jewish council who made up what would have been the Supreme Court in Judea during the Roman period. Paul described himself as a blasphemer...a persecutor...and injurious. He went from house to house arresting Christians and dragging them to prison. He even obtained letters of permission from the Jewish leaders to bring Christians to Jerusalem for punishment. He was also consenting to the stoning death of Stephen...an amazing man of God...and yet...Paul obtained mercy from God...and the grace of God was exceedingly abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus (vs 14).
Beloved, Jesus came into this world to save sinners, and Through the life of Paul, Jesus showed incredible forbearance, patience, and a beautiful constancy in Paul's life in His pursuance of him..that Paul might know Jesus! He was a man completely changed by the love of God...and we are blessed to read his story, not only so that we might see the heart of God, but that we might see the pattern laid out for all of US..an outline for OUR lives...an example, if you will...for all who would hereafter come to believe on Him.
Paul had received forgiveness. What a powerful thing! If it could be bottled, forgiveness could move mountains, mend relationships, heal the broken...and change the world. Yet, God gives it...FREELY! All we need to do, is receive it!
Paul had to go forward after he received salvation (sozo)...(to be saved, forgiven, to have been rescued from danger, to be healed.)... If Paul had continued to look back at what he'd done, he might have stayed in the past. He might have never fulfilled the amazing future that God had planned for his life! He could have been rendered useless...incapable of moving ahead. Also, if Paul had tried to add to his salvation..to the finished work of Jesus...then a question arises...why did Jesus die? Why did He lay down His life for Paul? Why did He lay down His life for you..for me...if it wasn't enough..if we have to add to it...Beloved..nothing could be further from the truth. Salvation was meant to be a gift to all of us...and it's a gift that is a complete gift..in other words, salvation was finished at the cross, and nothing needs to be added to it. We simply receive it..as we would receive any gift...with gratitude..and a heartfelt thanks to the God of mercy. He has provided this gift because He loves us!
Paul's life should encourage us. Beloved..no matter what may have happened in your past, you can move forward, like Paul did. We don't have to keep looking back, dragging the past along into the future. We've been given a gift...that was meant to bring life in abundance to every partaker. It's a gift that brings hope when life throws us a curve in the road, peace in the midst of any and all circumstance, supernatural strength when all human strength is diminished, joy that flows like a fountain...and the list goes on and on. The grace of our God is exceedingly abundant with faith and love in Christ...for every one of us. Receive it today. Partake. Rest. You will never regret the decision to shake off the past, and to put ON the fullness of God!