Mirror and Mercy 

Mirror and Mercy

Ever notice how the best stories get told over and over? Not because they’re new, but because they’re true. Deep down, innately true. The kind of truth that helps us make sense of our own scattered stories. That’s what Paul is doing in his letter to Timothy. He’s not just reminiscing about his glory days of persecution and conversion. No, he’s holding up his life like a well-worn map, saying “Look here – this is where mercy found me. And if mercy could find me there, it can find anyone, anywhere.” The religious folks of Paul’s day had turned God’s law into a measuring stick, a way of sorting the saints from the sinners. But Paul knew better. He knew the law was more like a mirror, showing us all the same reflection – people in desperate need of mercy. The kind of mercy that doesn’t just forgive but transforms. The kind that turns persecutors into preachers and enemies into examples. And that’s when Paul can’t help himself. Right in the middle of a letter about church order and sound doctrine, he breaks into praise: “To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever!” It’s as if he’s saying, “Timothy, don’t miss this – every time the law shows you your sin, let it drive you straight into the arms of this magnificent King.” This is what makes the gospel such startling good news. Not that we’re better than we thought, but that God is more merciful than we imagined. And every life touched by this mercy becomes a living billboard of hope, whispering to all who pass by: “If God’s mercy was big enough for me, it’s big enough for you too.” Maybe today’s the day to stop measuring and start marveling at this King whose mercy makes examples out of rebels. 

Caleb McCaughan, Foundations of Faith, part 2: Mirror and Mercy

Dinner Table Conversations: 

Adult & Teen Table Talk: 

• What’s your initial reaction when you hear the word ‘law’ – especially God’s law? Does it feel more like a burden or a blessing to you? Why? 
• Think about someone you consider ‘too far gone’ for God’s mercy. How does Paul’s story challenge that thinking? 
• Paul breaks into spontaneous praise in verses 16-17. What aspects of God’s character make you want to praise Him like that? 

Little Learners’ Table Talk: 

• Paul used to be mean to people who loved Jesus, but then Jesus changed his heart. Can you think of a time when Jesus helped you be kind instead of mean? 
• If Jesus was sitting right next to you right now, what would you want to thank Him for?