I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 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. 1 Timothy 1:12-13 Paul considered himself a recipient of God’s mercy. He believed that it was an honor to serve God. He recalled the mistakes that he had made before and realized that it was all by God’s grace that he was appointed to preach the gospel outside Jerusalem. And this task wasn’t easy. Paul needed to go through suffering and many persecutions just…