“PERFECT PATIENCE!”

 1 Timothy 1:12-16                         (ESV)

“[12] I thank HIM WHO has “given” me strength, CHRIST JESUS our LORD, because HE judged me faithful, appointing me to HIS service, [13] though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I RECEIVED MERCY because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, [14] and the grace of our LORD overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in CHRIST JESUS. [15] 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 (chief). [16] But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost (of sinners), JESUS CHRIST might display HIS “PERFECT PATIENCE” as an example to those who were to believe in HIM for eternal life.

There are some songs that speak a message that seems to tell a story that exemplifies something about our past that makes them special to us.  “SINNER SAVED BY GRACE” is one of those songs for me.  There are those who say that since we are CHOSEN, we shouldn’t refer to ourselves as sinners, but apparently the Apostle Paul didn’t get the memo???  He wrote in the above passage that he was the foremost of sinners, yet JESUS CHRIST used him to demonstrate HIS “PERFECT PATIENCE” to all as a testament to HIS MERCY and GRACE!

Gloria and Bill Gaither (along with Mitch Humphries) wrote the song with the testimony of George Younce in mind (https://gaither.com/sinner-saved-by-grace-the-story-behind-the-song/). George Younce was a bass singer for the Cathedral Quartet.  He, like the Apostle Paul, would have never been thought of as “the foremost (chief)of sinners”, but they both were able to SEE through the lies of “the enemy” and recognize TRUTH!  Compared to JESUS, they were flawed Creations with the only redeeming quality in their lives being that they had this JESUS living through their beings!

Unfortunately we don’t have the ability to live a life that adequately expresses how much JESUS CHRIST has done for us!  HIS “PERFECT PATIENCE” with the “foremost” of sinners continues to this day to be on display.  Remember when you are celebrating HIS GOODNESS in your life that aside from HIS “PERFECT PATIENCE” that you are in the running for the foremost of sinners!  “PERFECT PATIENCE” comes even though we are imperfect vessels!