16 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.
Paul considered his past and saw himself as the one at the bottom of the sin pile. Have you ever felt like no one was as sinful as you, as much of a hypocrite as you, as undeserving as you? You are not alone in that feeling. I talk with couples every day who feel their problems are so bad that they must get a divorce. As I listen I think of many other couples who have so much more going against their relationship. I often want to tell the stories of some of those other couples who have walked back from the edge of divorce and are now enjoying their relationship again. Paul had this honest view of himself. He recognized the depth of his sinfulness, his depravity. He had no illusions that he just needed a little help to serve God. He needed a total transformation, inside and out. The bulldozer had to flatten his house in order to make way for God’s dwelling in him. All we have to offer God is us. We offer an empty vessel for Him to fill. He uses our talents and abilities, if we recognize our emptiness. If we are proud and self-reliant, He just lets us do our own thing. If He doesn’t get the glory, he lets us receive it. He wants to fill us as He filled Paul, but we have to be willing, as Paul was, to give Him all the credit. Jesus doesn’t need great personalities to spread His Kingdom. He just needs simple people like us who are willing to let Him work in and through us and allow Him to get the credit. Are you willing to let Him get the credit?