The grace of our Lord was
poured out on me abundantly.
—1 Timothy 1:14
Paul never got over the gift of God’s grace.
Late in life, he wrote a note to his young protégé Timothy, saying he thanked the Lord “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” (1 Tm 1:12, 13).
God’s grace transformed this rigid, rule-dominated Pharisee into a humble, gracious servant of his Savior.
As we grow older, some of us grow harsher.
Not Paul. The gift of God’s grace made him a different person. As he grew older, he grew mellower. He never recovered from his gratitude for God’s undeserved grace.
May we never, either.
Today, thank God for his gift of grace.