Paul did nothing to merit or qualify for God’s mercy…quite the opposite! In Acts 8:3 we see him doing everything he could to destroy the Church by going house to house, dragging out both men & women and putting them into prison. This was not simple harassment but an attempt to ravage the fledgling Church into oblivion…it was calculated mistreatment for the pure pleasure of afflicting pain on others. But on that dusty road to Damascus Jesus got ahold of Paul (or Saul) and he became a changed man. Yet Paul is not saying here that ignorance can excuse sin…for we don’t know what we don’t know. Later, in this letter to Timothy, Paul is impressing on Timothy the “even though’s” of his past life. Even though Paul reviled & tried to destroy the good name of Jesus…even though he oppressed & tormented innocent people…even though he was a violent man…God still showed him mercy. Or as we see in verses 15-16, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life.” Maybe your life right now isn’t all it could be and you’re searching for peace…know that just like Paul all your “even though’s” will never negate the mercy & grace of God if you will just believe.
Safetypinlove 