“Are there difficult people around you?”

Heads up!

The people in your life are people who are under God's care. They are not “randomly” there, because God always has a plan… even with the “difficult” people around you…

Paul was just talking about those who “turned away” and engage in “meaningless discussions” (see 1 Timothy 1:6 NLT), and then he listed all their sins:

“…the lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders…” (1 Timothy 1:9-10 NLT). I’ll stop here, because it’s hard to read all those sins, but listen to what he says next: 

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made FOR ALL PEOPLE.” (1 Timothy 2:1 NIV)

How could he expect this? When I think of my former landlord who was cruel… or that friend who betrayed me… and I’m sure you have a few examples too…

Paul also gives us an answer: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 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.” (1 Timothy 1:12-13 NIV)

friend, if we had met Paul before his conversion, he would have been exactly the type of person we couldn’t stand. We would have avoided him…

But Jesus doesn’t avoid sinners—He stands IN their way! …because He understands where they’re coming from—ignorant in unbelief—and He knows where they’re going through Him.

friend, THIS IS GRACE.

If God hadn’t had this grace for Paul, a whole book (at least 😉) in the Bible would have been missing—a book that has changed all of us! So let’s be gracious with those around us because they could be the next heavenly story written!

Thank you for your grace!

You are a miracle!