sinners say i do (book quote 2)

From When Sinners Say "I Do," by Dave Harvey...

Paul wrote to Timothy, "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost" (1 Timothy 1:15)... Now let's look at the very next verse. "But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life" (1 Timothy 1:16)... With the passing of each day, two things grew larger for Paul: his sinfulness in light of the holiness of God, and God's mercy in the face of his sin. Knowing both God and himself accurately was not at all discouraging or depressing. Rather, it deepened his gratitude for the vastness of God's mercy in redeeming him, and the patience of Christ in continuing to love and identify with him in his daily struggle against sin (p. 35-36, emphases mine).

Charles Spurgeon, was another man who saw this reality in all its Christ-centered glory. "Too many think lightly of sin, and therefore think lightly of the Savior. He who has stood before his God, convicted and condemned, with the rope about his neck, is the man to weep for joy when he is pardoned, to hate the evil which has been forgiven him, and to live to the honour of the Redeemer by whose blood he has been cleansed" (p. 38).

If like Paul... I recognize the enormity of my sin, seeing myself as the worst of sinners, then I understand I have been forgiven much. That's when biblical reality begins to make sense. I start to see God as he truly is. His vastness becomes bigger than my problems. His goodness comes to me even though I'm not good. And his wisdom and power are visible in the perfect ways he works to transform me from the inside out (p. 38).

But once I find 1 Timothy 1:15-16 trustworthy - once I can embrace it with full acceptance - once I know that I am indeed the worst of sinners, then my spouse is no longer my biggest problem: I am. And when I find myself walking in the shoes of the worst of sinners, I will make every effort to grant my spouse the same lavish grace that God has granted me (p. 41, some emphases mine).