Sometimes we grumble about our work load.  Paul thanked God for the privilege of being called to do God's work.  What a privilege for God to trust us with his work on earth!

There is always a danger, when we accept a positon of leadership in our church - or anywhere else - that we will begin to think we are well equipped in our own right for the job.  We can easily become proud of ourselves.  Paul never forgot who gave him the work to do, and the skills, the strength and power to do it.  Neither should we.

V 13.
although in the past I had met him with abuse and persecution and outrage.  But because I acted ignorantly in unbelief I was dealt with mercifully;
TEV.  ....even though in the past I spoke evil of him, and persecuted and insulted him.  But God was merciful to me, becasue I did not believe and so did not know what I was doing.
NIV.  Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.

Paul understood well what God had done for him.  He held no illusions about his past and how 'unqualified' he seemed to be for the great responsibility God had given him.  He must also have been well aware of the mercy shown to him by the Christians who accepted him in spite of the way he had persecuted them.  How would my church react if someone turned up on our doorstep, offering to help, and we knew that person had been a strong and violent opponent of the church?  I'm not sure how much mercy we would show.  We must remember that not one of us is worthy of the tasks that God asks us to do for him. Not one of us has a suitable background to qualify us for God's work.  But God is merciful to all of us.

New Bible Commentary. p 1296.  The book of Acts provides the commentary here, for it describes Paul's ruthless persecution of the Christians beore his dramatic conversion (Acts 8 -9).  He never forgot the wonder of God's choice of him...... His recollection of what he had done through ignorance and unbelief served to heighten his awareness of the mercy and grace of God.  What struck him was the abundance of that mercy.  It reminds us that God does not hold our past against us when we are in Christ Jesus

Paul had been acting in unbelief.  He had not believed in Christ.  He had not known what he was doing.  This reminds me of the words of Jesus on the cross: 'Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.' (Luke 23: 34)

Mercy:  (Quest Study Bible definition , 1746) Compassion or kindness shown to someone instead of severity, especially to someone who doesn't deserve it.

Quest Study Bible note:   Ignorance does not earn mercy.  the fact is, nothing can earn God's mercy.  We still need forgiveness, even if we're unaware that we have sinned.  Paul saw that only the mercy and grace of God could reach him in his ignorance.  In the samne way we all need God's grace to show us we are sinners in need of salvatin (Romans 2:4)

Paul needed forgiveness - and so do we all.

V 14.
the grace of our Lord was lavished upon me, with the faith and love which are ours in Christ Jesus.
Nettleton paraphrase. Now though, our Lord has been extravagantly generous and flooded me with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
NIV.  The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
NLT.  Oh, how kind and gracious the Lord was!  He filled me completely with faith and the love of Christ Jesus.

My dictionary defines lavish as: without stint, profuse, very or over abundant.  That is how God acts towards us, even though we've done nothing to deserve it  God's generosity is unearned.  It can't be earned.  It is given freely, because of God's love.

Paul was just about overwhelmed at the thought of God's generosity to him.  He knew that without that gift, he couldn't possibly have enough faith and love to do the work that God had asked him to do.  Neither can we.ever have enough faith in God and love for others without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to fill us.with faith and love.  If we are not as delighted as Paul was about this, we ought to be!

V 15.
Here are words you may trust, words that merit full acceptance: 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners'; and among them I stand first.

This is the crux of the Gospel message.  Without understanding this first, every other command of Christ doesn't mean very much. It's repeated in different ways throughout the New Testament.
eg.  Roman 3: 23, 24: For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard.  Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty.  He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. (NLT)

V 16.
But I was mercifully dealt with for this very purpose, that Jesus Christ might find in me the first occasions for displaying all his patience, and that I might be typical of all who were in future to have faith in him and gain eternal life.
NIV.  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

Paul sees his conversion as part of God's plan for salvation for everyone in the world.  His thought is that, if God loves someone like him, with his background, so much and offered him salvation through Christ, then that will be an example for everyone of God's patience, love and generosity.  Paul hoped that anyone hearing his story would think, "Well, if God would do that for someone like Paul, surely he will do it for me."

V 17.
Now to the King of all worlds, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever! Amen.

Paul's natural response to God's graciouness is to burst out in praise.  If we really understand what God has done for us, it should be our response too - and not just on Sunday mornings!

If we don't know how to praise, let's just shout Paul's words.