Rejoice in Your Father’s Love

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. Since it was out of ignorance that I had acted in unbelief, I received mercy, 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 because of this, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate the utmost 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.
(1 Timothy 1:12-17 HCSB ©®)

Some people have a difficult time believing that they really have been forgiven for their very evil lives prior to salvation. Some people have difficulty believing that they need to be saved, because they feel justified for every action they have ever taken. In between these extremes, there are people who know they have fallen short and have sinned, but they never really did anything very bad.

Wherever you fit in that spectrum of evil, Jesus loved you and came for you and invited you to be born into a new life by receiving a new identity from His Father: a new spirit. He paid for your sin, no matter how costly it was, and has laid out before you a new life, that He can lead you into living. Rejoice with Paul, that no matter what you cost Jesus, He has paid it and you are free to be new forever. Be filled with joy as you consider how great the Father’s love for you is: that He would send Jesus to die for you, and send the Spirit to give you a replacement life for the one Jesus took on your behalf.