OUR DAILY BREAD 11 JULY 2024 DEVOTIONAL, THURSDAY ODB MESSAGE
TOPIC: Heavenly Abundance
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
KEY VERSE: The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:14
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Psalms 1-3; Acts 17:1-15
TODAY’S INSIGHT
Paul’s self-reflective narrative in his first letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:12-17) interrupts a longer discussion aimed at dealing with corrupt teachers spreading false doctrines in the church. Among the people Timothy is to watch out for are those who “want to be teachers of the law” (v. 7). The apostle explains that the law is good for identifying wrongdoing and bringing wrongdoers to repentance.
And then Paul identifies himself as the worst of them all. Not only does he condemn himself under the law as “a blasphemer . . . and a violent man” (v. 13), he zealously tries to defend that very law (see Acts 9:1-2; Philippians 3:1-6). In a way, the apostle uses his own story to present hope even for those who do wrong in and to the church. They can be redeemed, his own story says, if only by the grace of God. But that grace is more than enough.
Our Daily Bread 11 July 2024 Devotional MESSAGE
I expected eight bananas. Instead, when I opened the grocery bags delivered to my home, I discovered twenty bananas! I quickly realized that my move to England meant I also moved from ordering groceries in pounds to requesting them in kilograms. Instead of three pounds, I had ordered three kilograms (nearly seven pounds!) of bananas.
With such an abundance, I made several batches of a favorite banana bread recipe to share the blessing with others. As I mashed up the fruit, I began thinking about the other areas of my life where I have experienced unexpected abundance—and each path led back to God.
Paul appears to have had a similar experience of reflecting on God’s abundance in his life. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul paused to describe his life before Jesus, describing himself as a “persecutor and a violent man” (1 Timothy 1:13); “the worst of sinners” (v. 16). Into Paul’s brokenness, God lavishly poured out grace, faith, and love (v. 14). After recounting all the abundance in his life, the apostle couldn’t help but express praise to God, declaring Him worthy of all “honor and glory for ever and ever” (v. 17).
Like Paul, we all received an overwhelming abundance of grace when we accepted Jesus’ offer of rescue from sin (v. 15). As we pause to reflect on all the resulting blessings, we’ll find ourselves joining Paul in grateful praise to our generous God.
REFLECT: How have you experienced God’s abundance in your life? How will you offer praise to Him today?
PRAY: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your overwhelming gift of grace.
Our Daily Bread 11 July 2024 Devotional, Thursday ODB Message. Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread. our daily bread devotional for today audio our daily bread booklet.