I have been looking at Timothy this past few days, and have been re-reading it in my amplified, and what I am loving about the first chapter is the way God works through us no matter what obstacles we think are there, what weaknesses we feel we have. In 1 Timothy 1:12-16 Paul talks of the grace of God, and the strength that Jesus has given him to make him able, he recognises that without God he wouldn't be able, he recognises that before Jesus personally intervened on the road to Damascus, he was on course against God, but that God has used this to his favour, because what happens after that is so clearly of God, it is not Paul's own doing, but instead it is Christ shining through his life.

Our weakness is an opportunity for God to show his strength through us, things we see as obstacles, God sees as opportunities, God can turn all things round, and God can help us overcome and gain strength when faced with any negative situations. God loves to give his favour to those who conventional human wisdom might not view well, because then when those people turn around and their lives are changed and their lives are on fire for God and they are being blessed and they are impacting situations around them, it is by God, and the glory of God shines through in those circumstances. It says in Proverbs 3:34 “He gives his undeserved favour to the low in rank, the humble and the afflicted.” God doesn't view things through human, cynical eyes, God sees the potential and when God sees a person who the rest of the world may view as broken or weak or useless, God can see the potential for that person if they will walk with him.

We have this treasure in Jars of Clay (2 Corinthians 4:6-7) It is not about us, I think if the church as a whole could realise this, it would cause a phenomenal change, it isn't about looking at ourselves and thinking we can't do this or that, or that God can't use us, its about fixing our eyes on Him, and remembering that he is with us, he has chosen in his infinite mercy to place the light of his glory within us, its not about what we can't do, it's about what God can do, it's about what God will do if believe and do his will.

We shouldn't look at us and think incapable, or look at ourselves as churches and think we are incapable of impacting society with the message, we should look at God and see what he has done and realise what Awesome things he has that he wants to do.

Paul knew where he had came from, Paul knew what he did before Jesus saved him, Paul, this fantastic Apostle who took the gospel to the gentiles, the same Paul who demanded to be heard by Ceasar himself, he knew where his strength came from, he knew who had turned his life around, and he holds himself as an example to others in verse sixteen of that portion in Timothy, an example of what God can do.

I found that this was really speaking to me about taking our eyes off ourselves, fixing them on Him, and just really letting go, we're all different we all have different things that we see as weaknesses or obstacles, but when we remove our eyes from them and realise that God is the great I AM and that he can do all things, then we can really start to fulfil our potential.

We need to go about getting with God, and seeing that kingdom potential becoming reallity in our lives by letting Him show the way, and seeking His strength to overcome the obstacles, and His power to empower us to do his will.

It is, like, so all about Him.

Until next time,

Pete…