“I AM GRATEFUL!”

 

1 Timothy 1:12-17                 (LSB)

“12  “I AM GRATEFUL” to CHRIST JESUS our LORD, WHO has strengthened me, because HE REGARDED ME FAITHFUL, putting ME INTO HIS SERVICE, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. YET I WAS SHOWN MERCY BECAUSE I ACTED IGNORANTLY IN UNBELIEF; 14 and THE GRACE of our LORD was more than ABUNDANT, with THE FAITH and LOVE which are in CHRIST JESUS. 15 It is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance: that CHRIST JESUS came into the world to save sinners, AMONG WHOM I AM THE FOREMOST. 16 Yet for this reason I WAS SHOWN MERCY, so that in me as the foremost, CHRIST JESUS might demonstrate all HIS patience as an example for those who are going to BELIEVE upon HIM for eternal life. 17 Now to the KING of the ages, immortal, invisible, the ONLY GOD, behonor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Simply because of the GRACE and MERCY of THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, I WAS CHOSEN to be brought into this portion of my LIFE!  Just as the Apostle Paul was DELIVERED on the “road to Damascus” (Acts 9!), I experienced “the Brain Hemorrhage” of 2007!  Both instances were used to by THE CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF LIFE as a demonstration of HIS POWER AND STRENGTH to do WHATEVER HE NEEDED to do to OPEN OUR EYES to SEE TRUTH and BE USED for HIS GLORY!!!

To say GOD WAS GRACIOUS is the biggest UNDERSTATEMENT ever, as HE certainly COULD HAVE allowed me to continue on my own “road to Damascus”?  To unceremoniously say that “I AM GRATEFUL” to be RESTORED to a PHYSICALLY “operable” life is one thing, but to ALWAYS be reminded of where I “was going” is something that is TOTALLY in another realm!  

GOD is CONTINUALLY REVEALING to me that HIS GRACE and MERCY far exceeds my expectations!  To simply say “I AM GRATEFUL” seems so inadequate, yet there are NO WORDS that can encapsulate my TOTAL DEPENDENCE on HIM for giving me LIFE (Isaiah 42:5) and allowing me to continue living in “this world”…..for HIS GLORY!!!

The mortal words “I AM GRATEFUL” seems so INADEQUATE, not only for surviving life thus far, but to have HOPE for ETERNITY adds a WHOLE NEW DIMENSION, as ONLY HE CAN!!!  Yes, “I AM GRATEFUL” that HE HAS BLESSED me so TREMENDOUSLY in the past, but THE HIS GREATEST MIRACLE OF ALL was when HE SAVED MY WRETCHED SOUL from an eternity without HIM!!!