Grace Poured Out Abundantly
Date: March 7, 2023
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study and savor
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
Bible Scripture Verse – 1 Timothy 1:14
"The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."
Listen for God’s Voice
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your abundant grace poured out upon us through Your son Jesus Christ. Thank You for the faith and love that You have given us through Him. Help us to fully embrace Your grace and to walk in faith and love towards You and others. We ask that You continue to pour out Your grace upon us and fill us with the Holy Spirit, so that we may bear fruit that brings glory to Your name. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Explore History – Who wrote it, when and to what audience? Key people in the story?
1 Timothy was written by the Apostle Paul between 62-66 AD, during his first imprisonment in Rome. It was written to his younger co-worker Timothy, who he had left in Ephesus to help establish the church there. The letter was meant to provide instructions and guidance to Timothy such as leadership in the church, sound doctrine and living a godly life. In today’s scripture, Paul is reflecting on his own life and the grace that God has shown him, despite the fact that he used to be a persecutor of the church.
Study and Savor – Key Words
Grace - This refers to God's unmerited favor towards us, which we receive through faith in Jesus Christ. In this verse, Paul acknowledges the abundance of God's grace that had been poured out on him.
Lord - This refers to Jesus Christ, who is the Savior and Lord of all who believe in Him. In this verse, Paul acknowledges the source of the grace, faith, and love that he had received as being in Christ Jesus.
Faith - This refers to the belief and trust that we have in God and in His promises, which leads to salvation. In this verse, Paul acknowledges that the faith he had received was a gift from God.
Love - This refers to the selfless and sacrificial love that God has for us, which we are called to emulate in our own lives. In this verse, Paul acknowledges the love that had been poured out on him as a result of God's grace and the faith that he had received.
Summarize and Share
What a beautiful expression of Paul’s gratitude for the grace, faith and love that he received from God. We can’t help but be reminded of the abundance of God’s grace that is available to us through our faith in Jesus Christ.
As Timothy read these words, he must have been encouraged by Paul's testimony of the transformative power of God's grace in his own life. Timothy, like Paul, was a leader in the church and was facing challenges and opposition from false teachers who were spreading false doctrines. Reading these words would have been a reminder to Timothy that despite the challenges he was facing, he could trust in God's grace and be confident in the faith and love that he had received through Christ.
For us today, these words can serve as a reminder that we too have received an abundance of God's grace, and that this grace is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ. As we share our faith with others, we can use these words to help others understand the depth of God's love for them and the transformative power of His grace in their lives.
These words inspire me to lead with humility and gratitude, recognizing that any success or impact I have is a result of God's grace and not my own abilities. May we all be encouraged and inspired to share this message with others and to lead with humility, faith and love in all we do.
Bible Cross Reference
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." This passage emphasizes that our salvation is not earned by our own efforts, but rather it is a gift of God's grace received through faith.
Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This passage emphasizes the selfless and sacrificial love of God for us, which was demonstrated through the death of Christ on the cross.
Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." This passage emphasizes the transformative power of faith in Christ, and how we are able to live a new life in Him through His sacrificial love.
1 Corinthians 15:10 - "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." This passage emphasizes the fact that our efforts and successes are ultimately the result of God's grace at work in us, and should lead us to gratitude and humility.