Thumbing Through the Pages

I love it when I start reading a passage and before I know it, God is leading me to other parts of His Word so He can "enlighten" me on things.

I began reading in 1 Timothy this morning where Paul is writing this letter to Timothy who is "pastoring" the Ephesus:

Even though I (Paul) was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted out of ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me ABUNDANTLY, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus...1 Timothy 1:13-14. 

Quick reminder on Paul: before his encounter with Jesus through the Holy Spirit, he was very "religious" yet was a blasphemer.  So this word (blasphemer) led me to Mark 3:28-29 because I thought blasphemy was the unpardonable sin.  The passage reads: I tell you the truth, ALL the sins and blasphemies OF MEN will be forgiven them.  But whoever blasphemies the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."  

So what's the difference between blasphemies of men and blasphemy the Holy Spirit?  Well, I looked up the Greek word for blasphemy and it is blasphēmos which means speaking evil, slanderous, reproachful, railing, abusive.  We may blasphemy others by speaking ill of them like Paul did and we read here ALL other sins will be forgiven.  But if we speak ill of the Holy Spirit, well, that's a whole different message in itself.  

The point I got was this: no matter what we've done in our life; no matter how "bad" we've sinned, we can still be used by God.  We can feel so guilt-ridden by our past that we think God can't forgive and accept us.  But look at Paul's past. He had scoffed the teachings of Jesus ("a blasphemer") and hunted down and murdered God's people ("a persecutor and a violent man") before coming to faith in Christ. God forgave Paul and used him mightily for his kingdom.  No matter how shameful our past has been, God also forgives and uses us! May we have an encounter with the Holy Spirit like Paul did and begin today being used mightily by God!

Until next time.....