Thoughts on Rafael Nadal's Retirement from Tennis...

1 Timothy 1:15 (NLT)

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.

Rafael Nadal recently retired from a glittering career as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He said he wanted to be remembered as a good person who chased his dreams and achieved more than he could ever have dreamed. I'm sure he will be in this life, he does seem to be a genuinely nice person.

The Apostle Paul was rather different to Rafa. He had been a very religious man, but he was a blasphemer, a persecutor of Christ and His church, and a violent man. This verse is basically how Paul wanted to be remembered.

There's something unsettling about this verse. We all, humanly speaking, want to be remembered as good people. Yet Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

So if we think we're good, we're lost. We'll never be saved by Jesus. We need to repent of our self-righteousness and trust in Christ alone for our salvation.

'Heavenly Father, we praise You for sending Your Son into the world to save sinners. Help us realise our need of You, and so to be saved. In Christ's name, amen'

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