All to Him I owe

1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

I wish I knew……..I wish I knew so many things, yet I only know one thing; God has a plan for my life. I wish I knew what that plan was so I could try to the best of my ability to follow it. For most of my life I know I went against it as Paul says; but God extended me grace also. My list of sins past, current, and future will always outweigh my good deeds. The balance on the scales of good and evil will never tip into my favor of earning my way into heaven; neither will yours. The realization of one’s sin brings upon it a broken heart for God; a realization of a life lost eternally without Christ; a humility that breeds thanksgiving. A humility that desires to work out ones salvation in honor for receiving it, not trying to earn it.

James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.  When Christ really starts stirring in your heart, His Spirit starts to reveal your sinful nature to you. It is a painful process, but one necessary in the sanctification process of your life; or the process of making you more like Christ. God’s desire is for you to resemble His Son, and only through His Son can you ever get to God. When He brings these things to light the pain is part of the healing process through the confession of them. This process never ends; but that is a blessing for it keeps the heart humble, realizing our daily need for forgiveness.

In my study this week it has been so hard trying to focus on God’s Will for my life. I had a heartfelt plea this morning with God for clarity. I so desire to be in the center of God’s path, that it pains me. I have that need to “pay back” for all my sins as I believe Paul did. The conviction of a life before Christ drives the life after Christ in service and obedience to Him. 1 Timothy 1:16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (ESV) My prayer is for you to also realize how lost you are without Christ as the focus of your life. For Him to reveal to your sins to you as He has mine, and for the conviction of those sins to weigh on your heart. That heart transformed through that conviction is a heart transformed eternally to pursue God and the things of God.

All to Him I owe, sin had left it’s crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.