Him who has given me strength.

1 Timothy 1:12-17, I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 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. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Some people think that they are beyond the reach of the gospel of Christ; Paul has great encouragement for them. Most people think that they are beyond the need of the gospel of Christ, having enough righteousness on their own to stand before the living God. The only problem with that is that his standards are higher than our standards; he is not judging us relative to a ruthless dictator or an obvious sinner. He is judging us by his holiness which is beyond purity that we can even imagine. Why not accept the good news that I am flawed and Christ Jesus has provided the perfect solution, so that when I receive him I am transformed so that when the Father sees me he sees his own son, free from all guilt?

Thank you that you receive us to come “just as I am” and that you cleanse us from all unrighteousness as we confess our sins, things done and left undone, things visible and things hidden!

ESV Lectionary