How willing are we to say with Paul, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Tim 4:15)? Such humility is the open door to spiritual growth and renewal. Paul was one of the most righteous Jews of his time, yet he realized that all that he had striven for in life was not enough to save him. He needed divine grace. It is truly humbling to think that Jesus came and died for me. He died not just for the world, but even for little ole’ me. I am willing to put myself at the top of the list of sinners? Surely there are worse people than me, such as the scumbag down the street or the criminals in the Middle East. Can I put myself above ISIS on the list of sinners? The good news is that Jesus does not leave us there. There can be a real change in our lives because of the power of grace. Our names can be removed from the “sinner” list and put in the Lamb’s Book of Life “saints” list all because of God’s mercy in Christ Jesus.
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