Having Great Gratitude to God

by Mitchell Tan
July 08, 2016

PAUL’S GRATITUDE FOR THE TOTAL TRANSFORMATION OF HIS LIFE

If there was one person who was totally transformed by the Lord Jesus, it would be the apostle Paul. He changed from being a grave sinner to becoming a great servant of the Lord! What a conversion! This would not have been possible if it were not for the mercy of God and the grace of the Lord Jesus at work. It was with reference to these two divine attributes that Paul had great gratitude. As he wrote, he would take time to recall how the Lord had worked in his life and ministry through the years. This total transformation did not come about instantly. It was something that God worked in his life bit by bit. He was thankful (1 Timothy 1:12) for the change that the Lord had brought in his life.

GRATITUDE FOR MERCY TO HAVE A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE

1. OBTAINING GOD’S MERCY DESPITE ONE’S SINFUL PAST

“But I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief”
1 Timothy 1:13

Mercy can be defined simply as compassion or forbearance. Paul was a dreadful sinner and yet he obtained the Lord’s great mercy. He gave him a second chance at life because he did his sins without fully knowing what he was doing and without any faith in God.

2. OBTAINING GOD’S MERCY TO BE A PATTERN FOR OTHERS

“However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering as a pattern”
1 Timothy 1:16

Paul also received an important calling from the Lord. It was through His mercy that he was given this privilege to become a pattern for others to follow after. It was through the conversion and ministry of Paul that people would see how patient and merciful the Lord was towards him. All who want to believe in Christ would be deeply encouraged by his pattern.

GRATITUDE FOR THE ABUNDANT GRACE OF GOD AT WORK IN HIS LIFE

“And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant”
1 Timothy 1:14

1. GRACE TO SAVE

“That Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”
1 Timothy 1:15

Grace can be simply defined as unmerited favour. The Lord’s grace was indeed exceedingly abundant towards Paul. It was grace that brought the Lord Jesus into this world to save sinners, even a great sinner like him. Paul saw himself as the worst of sinners and yet it was grace that saved him. This was indeed a most trustworthy truth. He was full of gratitude to the Lord for saving him.

2. GRACE TO TRANSFORM

“As a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”
1 Timothy 1:16

It was also the Lord’s grace and power that worked in the life and ministry of Paul through the years. Paul became a pattern for others to follow so that they too can live their life for God. As he walked with God and grew in his knowledge and understanding of Christ, His grace began to transform him from glory to glory. His heart was full of gratitude for this. Young people, let’s learn to appreciate the Lord’s grace in Paul’s life and ministry. Let’s learn to rely on His grace and be thankful for it too.

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