John Gay

1 Timothy 1:15-17

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: 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 on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Choosing a passage has been as bad as trying to choose 8 discs for the desert Island - and the jury is still out on that! The reason I have chosen this one is because this passage first showed me the power of the Holy Spirit working through his word, the Bible.

I have said the first verse hundreds of times as a child and adult. It is one of the 'comfortable words' that used to be said every week in the church I went to when I was growing up. Yet that set form never gives the whole verse. It was hearing the Welsh Baptist minister, a brilliant preacher, who eventually became my training course tutor, preach on the verse, putting in the bit normally missing, that made me sit bolt upright in my seat.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners......of whom I am the worst.

Those last six words give comfort and assurance to those who feel for any particular reason that they are unworthy of God, or that perhaps God is not interested in them. If God is interested enough in Paul, a zealous persecutor of the church, to make him an apostle, and one who arguably outdid the rest in zeal for the Lord, then God is interested in any and all of us.
I was working my vocation to ministry out at this time. I was shocked, not because I felt unworthy, but because I realised up to that moment I was so smug I didn't know what 'grace' was...and suddenly I did. Read the rest of the passage and you will see why Paul had such confidence to pray as he does to finish. Praise be to God through Christ, Bless his holy name that he should also take pity on me also! How could I not love him!

Related to this is a couple of verses from Psalm 51 'Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my faults and my sin is ever before me.' This is the little prayer I say when I have prepared the table, just before the Eucharistic Prayer when I wash my hands. But even though I am unworthy, praise and thanks to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ that he has put his Spirit in me through grace to minister to his people on his behalf. What good fortune to have the privilege to do it on his behalf. Thanks be to God!