Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst. 1 Timothy 1:15

Without peer pressure, most people do not consider themselves the worst. Many will believe they are not worth much, because of the pressures of others around them, but seldom as the worst.

Most want to believe that they have some value or good in them, even if they are not the best. In thinking this way, very few like to put themselves down and will often fight back if someone else puts them down.

Paul points out that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Then he states that he is the worst of sinners.

Going through life, most people see it full of problems, but they also believe that they can overcome those problems. They see value in life in getting and doing things. Anything is allowed in this process of getting and doing, as long as it does not harm anyone or anything else. There is no universal absolute moral right or wrong.

Inside the church, there have been many who have bought into this type of thinking. Sin has been accepted and many believe that they are a good person, ignoring the standard God had set.

The believer who has realized what Jesus did, who He is and who he, himself is, will understand their own filthiness of sin. Instead of seeing himself as a good person, he will see his sin and consider himself the worst of sinners. This believer will judge himself against the standard of Jesus, who was perfect.

As one judges himself this way, he will understand the love and mercy of God to save him from those sins. It will also push him to strive and live the holy life God is calling him to.

Although you may not be ‘as bad’ as someone else, you are a sinner that Jesus wants to save. Every time you disobey God in any way, you sin. Any and all sin that you do makes you the worst of sinners with Paul.

Regardless of how little or how much you sin, you are sinner that God loves and wants to show mercy to. View yourself as a sinner that Jesus is redeeming, God loves and is having mercy on. Allow God to change you and make you holy as Jesus is holy.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will understand that sins you have done against God; that you will know God’s great love and mercy for you; and that God will make you holy as Jesus is holy.