I have a reason to stay with the apostle Paul, and mention what he also wrote to a young Pastor, Timothy, whom he knew from a very young age, he also knew his mother and grandmother. With time, as they worked together, Timothy became to him like a son, in his introduction to the first epistle, he wrote: ‘To Timothy my true son in the faith!’ What he mentions to him about his past will lead us later, to discover what he taught the people that he led to Christ, as a most faithful and dedicated apostle! This is what he writes: ‘I thank Christ Jesus my Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service. Even though I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus! 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 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, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever!’ (1 Timothy 1: 12-17.)

As I was writing these words, I realised that they are spoken out from the heart of this amazing man, Paul! He wrote them not to just put forth his deep gratefulness to God for his amazing grace, although he did that very clearly and most gratefully; but more to the point, He wrote them, to express the beauty and glory of our precious Lord and master. Paul could not forget what happened to him purely by grace, without any merit, for he wrote later to disciples of Christ in Ephesus: ‘For it is by grace you have been saved through faith —and this not from yourselves, (by your own efforts) it is a gift of God.’ (Ephesians 2: 8) If salvation was not given lovingly, by God’s grace, no man would be saved! God took the initiative and send Jesus his Son, to be hated and despised, then nailed to the cross, on which He died the cruellest of death. Then after raising Him from the dead, God gave to Jesus the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out abundantly on His disciples, ten days after His ascension; filled with divine power, they were sent to approach lost people, and do what is done to this very day, lost men are led to Jesus-Christ to be saved by God’s grace, without a solitary merit! When it happened to me, I did not seek Him, but he sought for me and by His grace I became a Christian, an experience I cannot forget, most divine! It is like a picture in my mind, I remember where and when it happened and things that followed! You too, can surrender right now, open your heart and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour! Just tell Him how you feel.

It is no wonder that the apostle Paul was constantly full of praise and thanksgiving to this amazing God-man Christ Jesus! He was full of praise, because he was found by such an amazing being, Jesus Christ! The Son of the living God, big enough to forgive so much to a worthless sinner like him, like me, like you, and make, of so many sinners, sons of God! What amazing conversion, it breaks me up as well, for we are dealing with Jesus Christ, God incarnate, this, out of this world person, our creator! As men were piercing his hands and feet with awful nails, rough and bad-tempered soldiers, mistreating his body, already bleeding and disfigured through the beating men inflicted on Him; a head bleeding due to the crown of thorns they forced into His scalp, He could say: ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing!’ (Luke 23: 24) What a prayer? All of it, is a story of love; The love of God that Jesus manifested so faithfully, and revealed God just as He is! Because of it He could say, whoever has seen me, has seen the Father also! These Romans soldiers, were driving nails into convicts daily! And saw them agonise for days before they died. They were past feelings! So how could they know that Jesus was different. Yet, in spite of it, Jesus prayed as he did, because He came to end His life with love for lost sinners, so that they might be saved!