The Message!

The Message!

1 Timothy 2:6 TPT

[6] He gave himself as ransom-payment for everyone. Now is the proper time for God to give the world this witness.

As we have been inforned recently through the daily bible reading, we are now constantly reminded of who we are, what we are, what we have and where we are headed. At the time we were born, we did not fully understand what was at stake or what we had been given, but as we became exposed to the word of God by reading, studying, meditating and listening, we became aware of what God has done for us, and the provisions He has made for us. We became conscious of who we were, but also what we could become, if we only came to a personal knowledge of Jesus, and we walked with Him daily. That is the secret to accessing all that God has made available for us: it is not done by forceful acquisition; this is not one where you simply apply money, influence or connections to get. 

Thank God for who He is and what He gave. Paul was a recipient of this grace. We know his past, and we know how he came to the saving knowledge of Jesus. If someone with a past like Paul could receive grace and be saved, then used mightily as God did with this man, then there is no one so far gone that s/he is beyond the mercy of God. We speak of the timing of the cross, but God had already laid down the plan for the salvation of mankind since the fall of man. The scene of the fall of man also became the scene of the redemption of man. The price of sin is huge; let no man belittle the eternal impact of sin, and wave it away like something not important. God knew what was at stake, and even though it cost Him a lot, He knew the value that would come from the price He paid. 

He was not compelled to. He did it of His own freewill. He became the ransom for the sin of the whole world. He became the whipping dog for those He had created; the Creator was at the mercy of those He had made. The demand of sin was a huge price that I could not pay, but Jesus came in and settled the bill in full, once and for all. It is critical to note that it was at the time of God's own choosing that Jesus was made manifest, but reflect on the love of a God who was willing to pay such a huge price for people that He could not fully guarantee would accept the gift He was giving. For those of us who have accepted Him, our lives must show Him off. For those of us whose hearts have been given to Him, we must let the world know the value of who He is, and what He has done in our lives. God has given a witness; am I also proud to be the living, breathing expression of that witness? God's time of favour is here.