Read: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

This is a faithful saying…,
that Christ Jesus came
into
the world to save sinners,
of whom I am chief.
-1 Timothy 1:15

When the great Puritan preacher Thomas Hooker (1586-1647) was on his
deathbed, a friend tried to console him by saying, "Brother Hooker, you are
going to receive your reward." "No, no!" he breathed, "I go
to receive mercy!"

In sharp contrast, A.W. Tozer recalled the prayer of a man who had the idea
that he could earn heaven as a reward for trying to keep the Ten Commandments.
It went something like this: "Now, God, I admit I have not kept number 1
and number 3 and number 7 and number 9. But remember, Father, that I have kept
all the others."

How foolish! This man failed to see that if he had broken one commandment,
he was guilty of breaking them all (Jas. 2:10). His works were earning him
condemnation, not salvation.

As the apostle Paul reviewed his 30-plus years of sacrificial service, he saw
himself as the "chief" of sinners and totally dependent on God’s mercy.
Although he undoubtedly anticipated the rewards he would receive, he gloried
only in the cross (Gal. 6:14). There Jesus paid the price for sin so that
everyone who trusts in Him will receive mercy.

The wonder of God’s mercy and grace! Someday I will "go to receive
mercy." I hope you will too. -Herbert Vander Lugt

‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me;
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me. -Wesley

GRACE IS GETTING WHAT WE DO NOT DESERVE.
MERCY IS NOT RECEIVING WHAT WE
DO DESERVE.