Set Apart to Serve

Set Apart to Serve

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service. – 1 Timothy 1:12

1 Timothy 1:12-16

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.

Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ – and I am the worst of them all.

But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.”

Lessons from Baseball: The Art of Choosing Teams

American baseball has long been more than a pastime; it has been a classroom for children, teaching valuable life lessons through its spoken and unspoken rules. One of the most enduring traditions is how players choose sides for a pickup game, a simple method that reflects fairness and balance.

In most neighborhoods, the hierarchy of talent is well-known, and the best players are widely recognized. Usually, the top two players are made team captains, responsible for selecting their teams. But how is it decided who gets the first pick? This is where an unspoken ritual involving a bat comes into play. A bat is tossed vertically, heavy end down, to one of the captains, who catches it with one hand. The other captain then places their fist directly above the first captain’s grip, and they alternate grasping the bat upward. Near the top, there is often not enough room for a full grip. The captain who manages the last complete hold wins the right to pick first.

Once the order is set, the captains take turns choosing players, starting with the third-best, then the fourth, and so on. This process helps keep teams fairly balanced in terms of skill. Even players with less talent, often seen as liabilities because of their limited hitting, fielding, or throwing abilities, are eventually picked and included in the game. Yet one unspoken rule remains: players do not choose themselves. The authority to pick team members rests solely with the captains.

This seemingly simple tradition teaches children more than just the mechanics of forming teams. It instills lessons about hierarchy, fairness, inclusion, and the importance of leadership, values that extend far beyond the baseball diamond.

Paul’s Perspective on Being Chosen

The apostle Paul had a deep awareness of what it meant to be chosen, understanding that it was not by his own achievements or merits but solely by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. He never considered the idea that he had chosen Christ; instead, looking back on his life, Paul viewed himself as undeserving, a once-proud, aggressive, and antagonistic opponent of the truth. He even referred to himself as a blasphemer of the very God he thought he was serving.

Barclay observes, it was as if, at the moment he was heading toward destruction, Jesus Christ had placed His hand upon Paul’s shoulder, halting him in his tracks. In that instant, when he was recklessly squandering his life, Christ intervened, bringing him to clarity.

Paul was astonished by the realization that a holy and righteous God could welcome and forgive a sinner like him. This profound understanding left him in awe, grappling with how he could be a recipient of such grace. Instead of facing divine wrath, he encountered unexpected mercy and love. As noted by Lea and Griffin, “[Paul] never moved beyond a response of wonder and gratitude for God’s act of salvation, accepting him ‘warts and all.’ We must remain anchored in the excitement and joy that our conversion brings.”

The Transforming Power of Grace

The grace and mercy of the Father abundantly overflowed Paul, erasing the significant sins of his past. Once a proud and determined individual, Paul found himself humbled and deeply remorseful for his previous life. Through introspection, he addressed his feelings of unworthiness and emerged with a profound sense of gratitude. His heart brimmed with praise and thankfulness as he recognized the Father’s forgiveness, trust, and selection of him for service. Paul understood that he had been chosen and empowered to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to him.

The Response to Being Chosen

What is the natural response to such love and grace? Reconciliation, restoration, and redemption bring about a profound transformation. This renewal leads to a profound change within the human heart. Paul’s life stands as a powerful testament to the impact of the Father’s love, as he dedicated himself to the assignment entrusted to him.

REFLECT & PRAY

Because of love, the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners from their sins, even the worst of them.

Father, I have only begun to grasp the magnitude of my sin. Open my eyes to see and fully understand the eternal separation from You that once loomed over me. Enable me to comprehend the incomprehensible. Your magnificent lovingkindness has made my scarlet sins whiter than snow.

INSIGHT

A Life Transformed by Grace

Paul became a man entirely devoted to the Father. His heart, once hardened, had been softened by the Father’s extraordinary grace, kindness, and mercy. Paul understood, perhaps more deeply than most, that despite his unworthiness, the Father had chosen him for a divine purpose.

Paul captured this profound truth in words that resonate through eternity. He writes in 1 Timothy 1:15-16,“It is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ – and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.”

Paul’s Ignorance and Transformation

Paul was a man of brilliance, highly educated and dedicated to his religious practices. However, his most significant flaw was his failure to recognize the true identity of the Lord Jesus Christ. This lack of understanding was not a justification for his actions but rather a testament to the spiritual darkness that had consumed his life. When Paul finally encountered the light, he fully grasped the depth of his sin and the magnitude of the grace extended to him.

As Moss explains, “The simple mention of the word ‘sinners’ causes Paul once again to reflect upon his own life. The term ‘worst’ is literally ‘first’ (protos). The term refers not to the sequence of Paul’s sin or conversion but to its magnitude. This may well seem to be an exaggeration to the reader, but for Paul, it is no exaggeration” (1 Corinthians 15:9-10; Galatians 1:13; Ephesians 3:8).

Paul’s most egregious sin was his fervent opposition to the work of God. As Constable notes, “His sin of aggressively tearing down the work that God was building up was the worst kind of sin.” Instead of allowing his past to hinder his progress, he transformed his despicable behavior into a catalyst for his unwavering commitment to service.

The Chief of Sinners: A Beacon of Hope

Paul’s acknowledgment of being the “chief of sinners” highlights the extraordinary, unearned, and unexpected nature of his salvation. His redemption serves as a powerful reminder that if grace can reach someone like Paul, then there is hope for everyone. His life demonstrates the infinite mercy of the Father and the transformative power of the gospel.

The Light That Shines in the Darkness

The Lord Jesus Christ is the true Light, illuminating the path for all who seek Him. As John writes, “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:4-5, 9).

Paul, who once dwelled in the shadows, a child of darkness, became a child of the Light. His life demonstrates the power of grace, the promise of redemption, and the unwavering truth that light persists even in the deepest darkness.

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© Dr. H 2026