Mensa Otabil - A Pattern Unto Others
- Watch
- Donate
First Timothy, chapter 1, verse 16. However, for this reason, I obtain mercy that in me first, Christ Jesus might show all long-suffering as a pattern for those who are going to believe in Him for everlasting life. Paul saw his salvation as a pattern that God was setting to show the patience that He has towards sinners. Because if God could forgive such a persecutor of the church as Paul, then God could forgive anybody. Considering the attitude that the early church had towards Paul, it’s obvious that they were not expecting him to be saved.
Paul was a very vicious attacker of the church; he wrecked havoc on the church, and he was so intense against it that he sought permission from Jerusalem to pursue Christians outside of Jerusalem. So how could God forgive such an enemy of the church? If you ask yourself how the early church would have prayed concerning Paul, probably the same way. They would have prayed for God’s judgment to visit him, for fire and brimstone to consume him, and probably that’s what they were hoping for because this man was an enemy of the church. Yet God, in His infinite mercy, instead of pouring fire and brimstone on Paul, poured mercy and compassion and drew him with a cord of love unto salvation.
The same God who was long-suffering towards Paul is still long-suffering towards sinners today. There are people we might wish that God would judge very harshly or even destroy because they probably blaspheme against the name of the Lord. They stand against the church, criticize the things of God, and hate Christians. Our prayer sometimes would be for God to judge them and deal very harshly with them. Well, Paul said that his salvation was a pattern, and if it’s a pattern, then the pattern continues: the same God who had mercy on Paul still has mercy on those who oppose Him.
So just consider that maybe our mission as a church should not be to pray for judgment against those who don’t like us. Our mission should be that God will raise more Pauls from our midst. Look around your office; examine all those who blaspheme the name of the Lord, who hate God and Christians, and who say some of the most painful, insulting things about the church and about God and Christianity. Maybe your job is just to pray for them, that the pattern of Paul will be repeated in their lives. You can look at your family, and there may be people like Paul whom God also wants to save to show His mercy and His long-suffering.
What a testimony it would be for those people to come to know Jesus Christ! And what a testimony it was that Paul came to know Christ. What if Paul had died on the road to Damascus? Judgment had come, and he had perished. We would not have had as much from him as we did when he got saved. People are worth more saved than judged and destroyed, and we must pray for the salvation of sinners.
So let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, have mercy on all those who oppose Your people. Touch their hearts and draw them close to Yourself. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.» May the Lord touch the people you know who don’t know Christ. May He touch them with His love and His power, and what a testimony it’s going to be. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom—peace and life to you.