Notes to the Lord:Law and Grace

1 Timothy 1

8We know that the Law is good, if it is used in the right way. 9We also understand that it wasn't given to control people who please God, but to control lawbreakers, criminals, godless people, and sinners. It is for wicked and evil people, and for murderers, who would even kill their own parents. 10The Law was written for people who are sexual perverts or who live as homosexuals or are kidnappers or liars or won't tell the truth in court. It is for anything else that opposes the correct teaching 11of the good news that the glorious and wonderful God has given me.

Lord Jesus--The law is an objective standard that remains to line up my obedience to the law of love toward You and toward those who surround me. It does not change. In so many ways I live in a time when the standards have been forgotten, and the wreck and rubble of those decisions surround me. Broken lives and hearts, it cuts across roles and reason.

It is easy to blame the liberals or for that matter the conservatives, or the talking heads on the video, but the reality is the state of the culture that surrounds me is result of the rejection of objective values for the subjective of how it feels, or what seems to be right.

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord. He has given me the strength for my work because he knew that he could trust me. 13I used to say terrible and insulting things about him, and I was cruel. But he had mercy on me because I didn't know what I was doing, and I had not yet put my faith in him. 14Christ Jesus our Lord was very kind to me. He has greatly blessed my life with faith and love just like his own. 15"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." This saying is true, and it can be trusted. I was the worst sinner of all!

Lord Jesus--Paul is pointing to the personal in juxtaposition to the law. You are the connection between the objective and the subjective. You make it possible for me to have relationship with the Father...it is your death and your sinless life that provided a means for my salvation. Mercy came for me right where I was at...just like you did for Paul on the Damascus road. You found Paul, you found me, and you still are on a seek and save mission to this day.

16But since I was worse than anyone else,God had mercy on me and let me be an example of the endless patience of Christ Jesus. He did this so that others would put their faith in Christ and have eternal life.

Lord Jesus--It is so easy to make life about “them vs. us.” You remind me this morning that there really are only those who need your grace. Remind me the next time I am getting that “them vs. us” feeling. There are only people who have experienced grace extended, and those who are still looking for it. There is really nothing more.

17I pray that honor and glory will always be given to the only God, who lives forever and is the invisible and eternal King! Amen.

In this day that is dawning around me lead me toward more of your grace lived out in my context. Help me to bring glory to your name in this day.