to the King

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:17

Paul breathed this prayer of praise after sharing the way in which God took him from being a blasphemer of the gospel, saved him, and turned him into a proclaimer of the new, glorious gospel. It is personal praise in response to God's personal work in his life. It is the heartfelt gushing forth of worship from one redeemed. It puts all the glory back where it belongs... with Jesus Who saved Paul.

Jesus is the eternal King. He has always been with the Father. Through Him God created all things. Jesus will always be with the Father and with us, bearing the scars of His love for us and death for us, showing His obedience to the Father in them, yet always living now for us. Jesus is the immortal God Whose resurrection brings eternal life to all who believe.

Jesus is the invisible God, unseen by us in the present, but known in history as real. He changed human history forever as the one and only God come in human flesh to save us. And Jesus is crowned now with honor and glory at the Father's right hand. Forever and ever we will praise Jesus. It never gets old or routine. When I think of Him in this way, praise pours forth as well.