DTR – Paul defines the Relationship.  1 Timothy 1.12-17

So you Defined Your Relationship with God, right?  If not, it is a worthwhile thing to do, I believe.  Where are you in relation to God?  I mean--do you feel close to him, or far from God?  Is your faith in Christ growing and vital, or stagnant, or is it non-existent?  Or perhaps you think there are many ways to God, that Jesus Christ is just one of them…?  Indeed, it is valuable to stop and think—where am I, and am I where I want to be in my relationship to the Almighty?  And if, by chance, you inadvertently happened upon this writing and you are not even sure you believe in God … well, would you at least be open enough to say or pray something like this: ‘God, if you exist—and I don’t think you do—but if by some chance you are there, somewhere … well, would you reveal yourself to me?  Would you show me that you are there?’ 

Paul Defines his Relationship with God, expressing his unwavering gratitude in the next few verses of his letter of encouragement to young Timothy: 

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.”¹ 

And with that, he thinks back to the day, nearly 30 years before—(in today’s colloquial writing, there would be a thinking bubble above his head)--when he had been on his way to Damascus to do harm to those who were following the Messiah. ‘Yes … I can remember it like yesterday,’ he thinks to himself, feeling afresh the acrimony race through him as he thinks again of the followers of The Way.  Oh, they weren’t called Christians yet…that wouldn’t be for several years yet.  ‘Those passionate devotees of Jesus were doing harm, causing trouble in the synagogues, and they had to be stopped!  The Law, above anything, had to be preserved, and I was going to do it.  No one or no thing was going to stop me!  That is, until . . . I was knocked to the ground, blinded by the brightest light I had ever encountered.  And then, a voice: “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”  “Who are you, lord?” I asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!  Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”² 

‘Well, the rest is history, as they say, and I turned completely around the other way—I went from hating the Jesus followers to becoming one of them.  Yes Sir, from the day Jesus himself stepped down into my path, I completely changed; since that day, my life has never been the same.  Oh, I am just as passionate—probably even more ardent—but now I am out to preach the Good News, not to silence it!’

And from Paul, ‘Seeking Friend, you must know that what I said back then is true: “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.³

More than two thousand years ago, Jesus came to take our place – to pay for the sins that kept/keep us separate from God.  And the way was clear: Jesus was the only way, the only bridge between our fallen selves and eternity with God.  At some point, all of us must decide what we will do with that Jesus; once again, it really does come back to defining the relationship.

Christine