Some years ago a saying gained popularity, “God doesn’t make any Junk.”  That is true in the sense that God is our creator, the one who made everything good, very good.  But Paul writes in his letter to Timothy (I Timothy 1: 12-17) that in ignorance he had turned himself into junk.  He turned himself into one of the sinners with whom Jesus loved to hang out with and invite himself to dinner.

Paul writes of himself, “a blasphemer, persecutor, insolent opponent of Christ and ignorant unbeliever.”  He is thankful to God who gave him Jesus Christ and judged him faithful and appointing him to be in His service. Though Paul was deep into sin, Jesus who came to save sinners such as him overwhelmed his sinful self with grace.  Paul received mercy in order to show him as an example God’s perfect patience to “those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”

So what’s left for Paul to do?  Nothing, accept to praise God.  So he concludes our lesson for Sunday, “To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.”  What can we do in the light of such great undeserved mercy?  Nothing except add our “Amen.”

As the reader said at the end of the lesson, “This is the Word of the Lord.” And ours was a fitting response, “Thanks be to God.”   As Paul said, this is a saying that is “trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.”