Ever Feel Like The Worst

October 27, 2015 | By Chuck

Do you ever feel like you're the worst sinner on the planet? I'm sure we've all been there. It may be that we even still struggle with that feeling about ourselves. As hard as it may be to believe, the apostle Paul actually felt the same way about himself. "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners- of whom I am the worst."(I Tim.1:15) Paul had quite a colorful past when he was better known as Saul the church persecutor. "Saul was there, giving approval" to the stoning death of Stephen. (Acts 8:1) Could it be, when Paul recorded the above scripture to Timothy that he was thinking back, with regret, on his days as Saul? We all have a past and things in that past that we want to forget. We've done things we wish we hadn't. We've said things we shouldn't have said. I'm afraid we all have a skeleton or two tucked away somewhere in a closet. So, what do we do? How do we overcome feeling like the worst sinner at times? We have to do exactly what Paul did and accept the grace and mercy of God. Notice the above cited verse is perfectly sandwiched between two very powerful verses that speak of God's grace and mercy. "The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."(I Tim.1:14) "But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life."(I Tim.1:16) Paul trusted by faith in God's grace and knew that since God showed mercy to him, He would to you and me as well. You and I, like Paul, may feel like that worst of sinners at times and when we do, we must remember the grace and mercy that God poured out for us through Jesus.