Practicing Eternity
Gateway Church
Morning
Verse
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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
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Spin the Wheel NowReflection
The "Pastoral Epistles" are three New Testament letters-1 & 2 Timothy and Titus-traditionally attributed to the Apostle Paul, though some (since the 17th century) have questioned whether the Apostle really wrote them. Curiously, whoever the actual author was, he used a consistent phrase throughout the "pastorals." Some five times the phrase this is "a faithful" or "true saying" appears, suggesting that the same author wrote all three of these epistles.
In all three of these epistles, the phrase this is a "trustworthy" or "true saying" appears to be used as a way of emphasizing the point that follows it. So, what is it that the author of 1 Timothy 1:15 wants us to internalize? What is it that he is so convinced that we should "fully accept"? It is the truth that Jesus Christ came into the world for the crucial purpose of saving sinners. As perhaps the most famous passage in the New Testament attests: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16-17) The author, presumably the Apostle Paul, wants his readers to know this was Jesus' primary purpose. This was God's chief aim in sending Him.
Now, this message from Paul is particularly poignant in that (prior to his conversion) he lived a rather sinful life. Saul (as he was known prior to his conversion) devoted his days as a Pharisee to terrorizing Christians, to trying to destroy the Church, and to the killing of the faithful followers of Jesus. Saul, like King David, could say, "I was a sinner from my mother's womb" (Psalms 51:5; Galatians 1:15); and "I am the worst" of reprobates (1 Timothy 1:15). The point is, if Saul of Tarsus could commit some of the most grievous sins and still be saved, how much more likely is it that Jesus could save you and me? Thus, the apostle bears his emphatic witness that Jesus came to save "the worst" of us, and he begs you and me to "trust" this declaration, to "fully accept" it-just as we should "fully accept" Jesus as the Savior of us all.
Evening
Verse
Friday, Dec 5
Today's Theme: Gratitude
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. ” 1 Corinthians 11:24
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Reflection
In 1 Corinthians 11:24, Paul recounts the words of Jesus during the Last Supper, where He took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, saying it represented His body given for them. Paul’s purpose in sharing this scene wasn’t just to recall a historical moment, but to remind the Corinthians of the depth of meaning behind the act of communion. At the time, the church in Corinth faced divisions and misunderstandings about what it meant to come together and share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul’s emphasis on Jesus giving thanks before breaking the bread underscores an essential aspect of how we’re called to approach communion—with a heart of gratitude and reflection.
When Jesus gave thanks, knowing the suffering He was about to endure, He demonstrated a powerful example of gratitude in the face of sacrifice. It wasn’t just a routine prayer; it was an intentional acknowledgment of God’s purpose and plan unfolding, even through pain. By highlighting Jesus’ act of giving thanks, Paul encourages believers to approach communion with the same spirit—not taking lightly the cost of the gift they’ve received.
Paul’s recounting of this moment challenges the Corinthian church—and us—to see communion not as a mere ritual, but as an opportunity to remember and be grateful for the sacrifice that made reconciliation and new life possible. It’s a call to pause, reflect, and appreciate the depth of God’s love, expressed through Jesus’ willingness to give Himself for the world.
Reflecting on this passage, we’re invited to embrace gratitude not just for what Jesus did, but for how He approached His mission. It’s a reminder to consider the weight of the gift we receive through Christ and to let that gratitude shape how we approach worship and community. By giving thanks, even in moments of impending hardship, Jesus sets a profound example for us, showing that true gratitude recognizes God’s work, even when the full picture isn’t clear. This perspective can deepen our appreciation of communion and inspire a more intentional and reflective gratitude in our own lives.
