The saying is sure and
worthy of full acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came
into the world to
save sinners.
The Apostle could have just said, “Jesus came to save sinners.” So why did he say more? He wanted to make sure it stuck!
“The saying is sure.” It’s reliable. Dependable. Trustworthy. And yet, it’s still more than that. The old word “surety” is a banking term. It’s the collateral you put up to insure a loan. It’s the lender’s security against loss or damage. Sometimes, a person acts as a form of surety – like the co-signer of a loan, we can provide surety for another person’s debt by assuming legal responsibility in case they default.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not likely to co-sign anyone’s debt! It’s generally bad business. It too frequently costs relationships. So if I do co-sign a loan, I have to absolutely believe that this person, this cause, is worth risking everything for. Meaning: I’d rather go into utter debt myself than miss this opportunity.
So read this verse in that light. “That Jesus … came to save sinners” is definitely “worthy of full acceptance,” but it’s also worth risking everything – including your finances – for!
And that’s not a new thought to Paul or that verse. It is the thrust of several of Jesus’ parables: A man finds a treasure in a field. He re-buries it, and goes and sells everything he has to buy that field and acquire that treasure. It’s pearl of great price, said Jesus. The kingdom of God is worth risking everything for.
What would it take for you to become that urgent in your faith?!
In Christ’s Love,
a young man who once risked
a job and support for his family
for the kingdom.
(What are you willing to risk?!)
No comments:
Post a Comment