Even Though!

1 Timothy 1:12-13

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.

In the middle of this passage, Paul uses a phrase “I used to”. I think we all have an “I used to”. I used to not care anything at all about God. I used to make fun of Christians. I used to live every day looking out for myself and making sure others’ attention was focused on me. I used to live every moment looking for the next pleasure that would soon vanish and need to be filled again. I used to dishonor God in practically everything I did, said, and thought.

What’s your “used to”? What has God brought you out of? What makes God’s mercy so incredibly important in your life? It may be too much to even list on a piece of paper! I know it is for me. Remembering what we used to be creates thankfulness in us that Jesus would now let us serve Him. Remembering who we were creates thankfulness that Jesus would even trust us now to accomplish His work on this earth!

I love where verse 13 says: Even Though! Yes, we have done wrong things, but even though we did, He uses us today! Even though I chose my way over His, He now uses me! Even though I put God at the bottom of my list of priorities, He now trusts me! Even though I turned my back on Him, He never has turned His back on me. Even Though!

Let’s remember where we came from, but let’s also tack on an Even Though to the beginning of those remembrances and let a praise of thankfulness come forth that our God never counted us out or dismissed us from serving Him!

Can you extend the same Even Though to someone else in your life? Has your husband let you down? Maybe you can say: Even though you let me down, I’m going to offer forgiveness to you. Or to your kids: Even though you got this terribly wrong, let’s try this again. Or to a friend: Even though I felt neglected by you, I’m going to pray for you.

One day recently, when I was frustrated at the way my pre-teen had been acting, the Lord spoke to my heart and said: “You weren’t perfect, why are you expecting her to be?”

God used you Even Though you got things wrong in the past, and He can use those around you Even Though they get things wrong too! How about remembering the mercy Christ Jesus has extended to you, thank Him for it, and extend that same mercy to those around you?

Thank you, Lord, for using me in spite of my failures. Please help me to see the great things you can still do through the people around me even though they have gotten things wrong, too!