ONLINE CHURCH BULLETIN

Unlimited Patience

1 Timothy 1.12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that  he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was  once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy  because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was  poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ  Jesus.  15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus  came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 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. 17 Now to the King eternal,  immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.  Amen.

Paul recognized that he was both an object of God’s mercy and an instrument  of God’s mercy. God showed the extent of His mercy when He welcomed the  murderers of Christ into His family (Acts 2.22-47). He showed it again when  this prominent persecutor of Christians--and Christ--was welcomed into His  family (Acts 9.5-19).

We can fulfill God’s will for us only when we recognize that, like Paul, we  are both recipients of His mercy and demonstrations of His mercy to others.  As missionaries endure travels and travails to obey the great commission,  they are sometimes asked why they do it. The poor want to know why the  "wealthy Americans" would want to leave their homes to teach in a strange  land. I expect that many of the evangelists express what Paul did: "I have  received God’s mercy and I want to share it with others. He has done so much  for me and I must be willing to share what I have received!"

Matthew 10.8b "Freely you have received, freely give."

Dear Father, we are so grateful that You have extended Your mercy to  us--mercy that is greater than all of our sins! We are also grateful that  You can use us to show Christ to others. Use us in this way--as recipients  of salvation and as messengers of the good news. Help those who are hurting.  We ask this in the name of Christ, our Savior. Amen.

1 John 5.14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask  any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he  hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we  desired of him.

Only God can know HOW our prayers WORK but we believe HE answers. Please  write me to add names to the prayer list and to report changes in status.

Let us be thankful and prayerful!

Love
Brad Forgy