13Even though I was once a bl...

13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.

14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. - P56

15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

- P56

Paul thanks Christ Jesus for considering him trustworthy and appointing himto His service despite his past as a blasphemer and a persecutor. Christ Jesusshowed Paul mercy as an example of His immense patience for those whowould believe in Him.  - P57

Paul urges Timothy to fight the battle well, holding tofaith and a good conscience, unlike those who shipwreck their faith. - P57

How would you respond if someone gave you a gift you did not deserve? In this passage, Paul reflects on the overwhelming grace he has received. He is grateful for the strength and trust he has been given to serve the Lord although he was once a persecutor of the church. God not only saved him but also called him to be a minister of the gospel. - P58

God’s grace was poured out abundantly on him, surpassing all human logic. This truth continues to apply to all believers: we are undeserving, but God calls us into His family and entrusts us with His service. In response, we should be faithful to minister to Him and His people with humility and gratitude. - P58

While declaring that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, cnsPaul calls himself the worst of sinners, not because he wants to wallow
in self-deprecation but because he is grateful for God‘s mercy.  - P58

In a worldthat encourages self-affirmation and self-centered confidence, Paul‘s per-spective is countercultural. When we lose sight of our sinfulness, we riskdiminishing the depth of God‘s grace and taking His mercy for granted.
This can lead to a sense of entitlement or even abuse of the grace we havereceived.  - P58

However, when we remember the contrast between our sinfulnessand God‘s holiness, our gratitude deepens and our worship becomes moreauthentic.  - P58

True worship flows from a heart that has been humbled by graceand responds with awe and devotion. - P58

Dear God, I am unworthy, yet You have lavished Your grace upon me. May I never take Your mercy for granted. - P59

Let my worship be filled with gratitude and awe, knowing that all I have is because of You. - P59

Teach me to serve with humility. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P59

To Timothy my true son in the...

To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer

4or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.

- P52

5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
- P52

8We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.

9We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,

10for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine

11that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

- P53

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, writes to Timothy, his son in the faith. Paulurges him to stay in Ephesus to command certain people not to teach falsedoctrines or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies.  - P53

The goalof this command is love, which comes from a pure heart, a good conscience,
and a sincere faith. - P53

Paul begins his letter to Timothy by instructing him to stay in Ephesus and address the challenges the church is facing. These challenges stem from false teachers and their doctrines, which contradict the gospel and cause division rather than advancing God’s work. Paul urges Timothy to take action, speaking as someone who has received God’s command to faithfully carry His good news of salvation and hope. - P54

Paul’s letter aims to remind Timothy of this service and hope that they share, and to encourage him to guard the truth of the gospel. - P54

We who acknowledge God as our Savior and look to Christ as our hope have also been entrusted with the gospel. We, too, are tasked with holding firm to it and helping others grow strong in it. - P54

A false understanding of the Law leads to meaningless talk within thechurch and clouds the truth of the gospel. Unlike the true apostles ofChrist, these so-called teachers of the Law failed to grasp its core lovingGod and loving one‘s neighbor. They misunderstood its purpose as well,
claiming the Law is the way to salvation.  - P54

These false teachers‘ lack of under-standing of the gospel, salvation, and the Law resulted in their inability tohave a right relationship with God The Law is not the basis for salvation.
Rather, it reveals sin and restrains it.  - P54

Those who have been made righteousin Christ have been given a new nature on which sin no longer exercisescontrol, and which therefore no longer needs to be under the Law. - P54

One of my regular tasks as a missionary is writing and sending prayerletters. Since I started writing these letters, I have been able to relate moredeeplyto the letters of the apostle Paul and the heart behind them. Paulwrote many letters to both churches and individuals, praying for his readers,
answering their questions, addressing issues, and teaching them what tobelieve and what to confront. In all of Paul‘s letters, we see his genuine loveand concern for his readers.
- P55

Although the content of my letters differs from Paul‘s, when I write, Istrive to share my heart with my family, friends, churches, and anyonewho is reading. I share how God is working in my life and in the missionfield where I serve, and I ask for the readers‘ prayers. I also thank and blessthem for joining me in this mission that is not only mine but-primari-ly-God‘s.
- P55

As I was reading the opening verses of Paul‘s first epistle to Timothy, I wasdeeply touched by the strong connection between Paul and Timothy inthe gospel. United by one Christ, one gospel, and one faith, Paul sincerelyhopes that Timothy, his "true son in the faith" (1 Tim. 1:2), will be just aszealous in guarding the truth and nurturing the church. Paul‘s words radiateconfidence in the gospel, which he has received from Christ Himself. Onthis foundation, he exhorts Timothy. His exhortation extends to all of uswho read this epistle.  - P55

Through Paul‘s words, the Holy Spirit invites us tojoin in this divine mission, which we, too, have been entrusted with. - P55

Lord, thank you for entrusting me with Your gospel. - P55

Help me grow in my knowledge and love of Your truth so that I may help others grow as well. Protect Your people from the lies that seek to make us turn away from following You. In Your name, amen. - P55

At the beginning of this psal...

At the beginning of this psalm, the psalmist recalled God’s promises to His people, but now he sees a desolate nation. He remembers God’s promise to make His anointed victorious, but what he sees is the enemy rejoicing over the defeat of God’s anointed. God’s promise is made firm by His holiness (v. 35), but the stark contrast between God’s Word and the reality of David’s kingdom falling apart causes the psalmist to pour out this lament. - P50

Likewise, we might face situations that seem to contradict God’s promises and character. In such moments, we can pour out our lament before Him while remembering He is still working according to His plan and timing, even in the midst of our trials. - P50

Dear God, I praise You for Your faithfulness in all circumstances. - P51

Forgive me for the times I fail to see Your goodness and give in to despair. Turn my heart toward You and anchor my thoughts in Your promises even when I struggle with painful realities. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P51

26He will call out to me, ‘Yo...

26He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’

27And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth.

28I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail.

- P44

30"If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes,

31if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands,

32I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging;

33but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.


- P45

34I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.

35Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness— and I will not lie to David—

36that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun;

37it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky."
- P45

God spoke in a vision, anointing David, His chosen servant. His hand sustainshim and enemies will not defeat him. God‘s love and faithfulness are withDavid, who calls Him "Father." God appoints him as His firstborn and estab-lishes his line forever.  - P45

If his descendants sin, God will discipline them but Hewill never remove His love or revoke His covenant. - P45

The first half of this passage speaks about the special favor bestowed uponDavid through God‘s covenant with him. What makes this favor supremelyspecial is that God does not covenant with David alone, but extends Hiscovenant to the descendants of David, forever.  - P46

Through Jesus, the Messiahfrom the line of David, we are now welcomed into this covenant relationship with God. All the favor enjoyed by David and all the privileges re-served for a child of God have now become ours. Among the more preciousbenefits of being the object of God‘s covenantal love are His rebuke andcorrection.  - P46

In this world, when someone displeases you, it is not uncommon to break off ties with them. But God, in His unbreakable faithfulness,
disciplines His children so that they turn from paths which lead to death. - P46

Because of His unending love, He beckons us back to Him. - P46

Dear Jesus, thank you for being Lord over our family. You give us strengthand are faithful in Your love for us. Help us to be faithful to You, our Rock andSavior. In Your name, amen. - P47

1I will sing of the Lord’s gr...

1I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. - P38

6For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?

7In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. - P38

13Your arm is endowed with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.

14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.

15Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

- P39

16They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness.

17For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn.

- P39

18Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.

- P39

The psalmist sings of the Lord‘s great love. God has established His covenantwith David and sworn to establish his line forever. The heavens praise Hiswonders. He rules the seas and scatters His enemies. His rule is founded onrighteousness and justice. Those who have learned to acclaim Him and walkin the light of His presence rejoice in His name all day long. - P39

The psalmist explodes with jubilant praise for God’s faithfulness. At the center of his praise is a divine promise about something he does not fully grasp: an eternal throne for David’s line. The psalmist—and all the other prophets, for that matter—did not comprehend the full extent of God’s faithfulness. They knew they were pointing to something and someone, to an enduring kingdom of God, but they were pointing to something that they did not fully see. We have much more. - P40

Through the whole of Scripture, we know that this promise of an enduring throne ultimately points to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. God has made His faithfulness known to us by giving us His Son so that in Him we might be counted as God’s righteousness. - P40

The psalmist recounts the perfections of God‘s faithfulness. God‘s faithful-ness is seen in nature: how He governs the sea and how He sustains all Hehas created. His faithfulness is seen in how He crushes all things that areagainst His perfections: He upholds righteousness and justice and scattersHis enemies. And ultimately, His faithfulness is fully known as His peoplewalk in the light of His presence.  - P40

When you work under good leadership,
it is not only your company that thrives, but you as an individual as well.
When you walk in the grace of a perfect and faithful God, not only do youserve Him but He serves you (see Mark 10:45). So, let us walk in the waythe psalmist has declared, in the light of God‘s presence. - P40

Father, I thank you for lavishing Your perfect love on me every moment of my life. Move my heart to celebrate the fact that You are always by my side as my faithful Father. Let this awaken joy every season of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P40

God converses with us primarily through His words in Scripture.
We can also use His words to respond to Him.
Use the following guide to pray through this week‘s memory verse.
"Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD-that you alone are the MostHigh over all the earth." - Psalm 83:18 - P41