What Are Your Liabilities?

So in this next section, Paul centers on himself, but not in a self-centered way. Rather he illustrates how Christ redeemed him out of his malice toward Christians and how Christ wants to use Timothy to do this same work with woke believers in Ephesus. The evidence that he gives Timothy is the testimony of his own life. He declares that he, too, was once like these Ephesians — a hater, bully, and brazen man. So with this context, listen to how Paul states this in the following few verses:

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. — 1 Timothy 1:12-14

I love that Paul can list his liabilities — blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent. But I also love that he sees these attributes as something in the past — though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent.

Paul does two things here that the Christian man should do.

1. He names his liabilities.
2. He sees them as something former because of God's grace.

We should do the same. First, we should be able to name past our liabilities. Some men cannot. Either because they are too arrogant to admit they have liabilities or they have not taken the time to reflect on what they might be. So what are yours? Can you name and identify them specifically and not just generally? And second, if you do know them and have been humbled by them, are they becoming something of the past, or do you cling to them because you have trouble accepting God's grace?

If you are having trouble answering these questions, do what Paul did here. First, name your liabilities, and then see them in the light of God's grace. Because until you do, you might be just as woke as the believers in Ephesus. Self-sufficient men living by the Law and not by grace.

ASK THIS: Have you done 1 & 2 above?

DO THIS: List your liabilities and accept God's grace again.

PRAY THIS: God, I need your grace. 

PLAY THIS: This Is Amazing Grace.