”Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.“
1 Timothy 1:15 NIV
I meet with a group of men every Thursday, snow or no snow. (Thank God for ZOOM.) Today we started studying I Timothy. It will take us a while. One year we studied Romans 8, the whole year, one chapter. We are not fast. 🤓
But in I Timothy 1, I came up on this verse about fasting, verse 15. Okay, I’ll be honest, right now, every verse I read is about fasting. I can’t wait to read Jesus’s words, “It is finished.” 😂😂
But there is something here for us as we fast, I think. “Jesus came to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” As I have spent this intentional time of trying to focus on God, lay aside some worldly things, and get closer to Him, I have become more aware of two things, who Jesus is, and who I am.
He is good, and loving, and gracious, and kind. I am, well, none of those things. This first chapter is about men who have tried to use legalism and the law to make God into something He is not. Paul says, The law (read that fasting) is about us, not about God. The law, or fasting, merely serves to point out my weakness and lack of self-control. And that reminds me that Jesus is about love, whether I stay away from that maple sugar donut or not. See, I told you this was about fasting.
Keep up the good work. Stay with the fast. But whether you do it perfectly or not, remember that God loves you and Jesus came to save you. And remember to pray for me. I drive right by Dunkin Donuts on my way to Bible Study.