保罗的见证
提摩太前书一章12至17节
12我感谢那给我力量的我们主基督耶稣，因他以我有忠心，派我服事他。
13我从前是亵渎神的，逼迫人的，侮慢人的，然而我还蒙了怜悯，因我是不信、不明白的时候而做的。
14并且我主的恩是格外丰盛，使我在基督耶稣里有信心和爱心。
15“基督耶稣降世，为要拯救罪人。”这话是可信的，是十分可佩服的。在罪人中我是个罪魁。
16然而我蒙了怜悯，是因耶稣基督要在我这罪魁身上显明他一切的忍耐，给后来信他得永生的人作榜样。
17但愿尊贵、荣耀归与那不能朽坏、不能看见、永世的君王、独一的神，直到永永远远。阿们！
信息分享
在第13节，保罗生动地描述了他信主前的光景，正是约翰˙牛顿（John Newton，1725-1807）在一世纪的翻版。他以三种方式逼迫基督：亵渎神、逼迫人和侮慢人。使徒行传八章3节记载他「残害教会……拉着男女下在监里」，那些被捉的人最后命运如何，我们不得而知。然而，这个人却得蒙基督的拯救。
保罗在第16节说出基督拯救他的一个理由：耶稣基督要在他的身上显明祂一切的忍耐，显示祂伟大慈爱的榜样。神所成就的还不仅如此，祂使用这不配的器皿，使他成为世上所知最伟大的宣教士（12节）。神让他成为祂的仆人、祂的执事、祂的代表和祂的使者。今天，神同样会使用不配的人去传扬福音，见证祂的大能。
神在保罗身上成就的工作，同样可以在我们每个人身上成就；还可以成就在我们的代祷对象身上。保罗在罗马书十六章7节提到他的亲属安多尼古和犹尼亚安，说他们「比我先在基督里」。在保罗信主前，他俩很可能就是为保罗得救切切祷告的人，这样的推断应不过分。他们看得见保罗在信主之后，必定可以被神大大使用吗？这很有可能。有一天我们与他们在天上相遇，就都清楚了。
你有为未信主的家人、朋友祷告，求神拯救他们吗？而且，你还看出他们的潜质，当他们信主之后，将可以被神大大使用吗？继续为他们祷告吧！也许有人也曾在你信主前切切为你代祷。神不单垂听祷告，且极愿意拯救人和使用人去服侍祂。继续祷告吧﹗
PAUL’S PERSONAL TESTIMONY
1 Timothy 1: 12-17
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Message
In verse 13 Paul gave a vivid description of his past life. He was the John Newton of the first century. There were three ways in which he opposed Christ. He was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man. We have never been told the fate of some of those mentioned in Acts 8:3. “Saul began to destroy the church....he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.” This was the man Christ saved.
In verse 16 Paul tells us one of the reasons he was saved - that in Him Christ might display His unlimited patience as an example of His great kindness. God did even more than that - He took this unlikely vessel and made him one of the greatest preachers of the Gospel which this world has ever known (v.12). God made him His servant, His minister, His representative, and His ambassador. And God is still the same today. He can take unlikely people and turn them into evangelists of the Gospel. That is the unlimited power of God.
What God did for Paul, He can do for each of us. He can do it for those we are praying for. In Romans 16:7 there is a reference to Andronicus and Junias, relatives of Paul whom Paul said were “in Christ before him.” Is it too much to think they were some of those who were praying for Paul before he was converted? Did they see in Paul one whom God could mightily use if only he would come to Christ? It could well be so. We will meet them all in Heaven some day.
Are you praying now for someone, a friend, a relative, whom you believe is unsaved and yet you see great potential in their lives if they were converted? Keep on. Someone probably prayed for you to come to Christ. Keep on. God answers prayer and He longs to see men and women saved and serving Him. Pray on.