Reading 48

2 Thessalonians 2-1 Timothy 2

I am in a leadership class at Nursing school in Spokane. In this leadership class we talk about how nurses interact with each other. I have to admit, more times than not, I am totally convicted by what I learn in this class! Nurses talk behind each others back, they criticize each other, always comparing themselves to those around them. I don’t think it’s just nurses though. We all like to compare ourselves, don’t we? We justify our actions by what others have done.

Usually, within the Christian world especially, this is seen as entirely negative. We are not to judge, not to gossip, not to compare ourselves with others. Listen to this…

1 Timothy 1:13-16 “Even though I was once 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 very 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.

It’s as if Paul’s purpose in life was to give us something to compare others to. I love this. If we had lived during the time of Saul, we probably would’ve dubbed him as “unsaveable, a hopeless cause.” He was out to destroy the Church, who would’ve thought that he would become one of the foundations of the early church? NO ONE! No one. Paul is using his testimony of God transforming his life to show us that we need to compare others to this. Who do you label as “too far off the deep end, or hopeless”? What are they like compared to Paul? If God is all powerful, can’t he rescue and transform anyone? Paul is evidence of this, don’t discount people. God used Paul’s salvation as a testimony that no one is ever too far gone to be rescued. God does not give up on people. He loves everyone, regardless of sin in their life and actions in their past.

There is a similar thing with the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. They strayed from the Lord so many times throughout the Old Testament. Their unfaithfulness is disgusting. They would build idols and bow down to them time after time even though God continued to remind them that He alone is God. I am so thankful that the Lord used the nation of Israel to show us a picture of his patience and forgiveness and faithfulness. There have been times when I am so annoyed by my unfaithfulness and neglect of the Lord that I can believe that God must not want me back. All it takes is for me to compare myself to the nation of Israel and realize that if God is patient with them, he will be faithful to me.

Sometimes comparison isn’t all bad. I think that Paul, and the nation of Israel were strategically used by the Lord to show us that no one is ever too far lost to be rescued, nor is any unfaithfulness too much for the Lord to forgive.

Andrea

Reading #48 (audio)