Punish or Redeem?

In First Timothy 1:20, Paul in writing to Timothy says that he has given, "Hymenaeus and Alexander over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme." On the face this can seem as a harsh move by Paul, however he had redemption in mind. It was Paul's desire that these men be
in such a position that they would once again seek God and return to their faith.
This verse leads me to ask two questions of myself. First, why is it always easier to punish than redeem? Unfortunately, at our core, punishment makes us feel good. It seems to satisfy the feeling that we have of being put upon by another. Punishment doesn't often make a person better, just more careful. Redemption on the other hand is hard. It takes forgiveness. It takes putting ourselves last behind the best interest of another. It means we may not experience the perceived justice we think we are due. But the result may mean that a person becomes closer to God and useful to the Kingdom and others. Second, what is God's nature? Though God has punished evil people throughout history, His nature is redemption. That is what the cross is all about. That is why we have the opportunity to have a relationship with God. God's nature is that all of us are redeemed to His Kingdom.
When I am tempted to punish, I need to be reminded of this passage in First Timothy. I need to remember that since God's nature is redemption, that must be my nature as well.

Greetings?

Paul’s greeting to Timothy in 1^st Timothy 1:1 says, “Paul, and apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.”

I don’t know about you, but there are times when I am in such a hurry to read what comes after the greeting I miss what it contains. When I studied this greeting with the help of Barclay, Paul reminds us of a few important things.

“Paul and apostle.” Paul saw himself as an ambassador or envoy of Jesus. We are familiar with ambassadors. Their job is to represent a person or country in the best possible way.

“By the command of God.” Paul thought of himself as holding a king’s commission. He was not only given a job to do, but had the authority to accomplish it.

“Christ Jesus our hope.” Jesus is only the hope we have; hope of moral victory, hope over circumstances, and hope of victory over death. Jesus is our hope.

I then need to ask myself a few questions. How am I doing as God’s ambassador? Am I representing Him well? Am I fulfilling the King’s commission? God created me for a purpose, and has gifted me to accomplish that purpose. How is my hope? Is my hope in Jesus alone, or do I hope in things other than Him?

Short greeting; powerful lessons.