Thursday, October 27

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11–14)

Titus represents the third of Paul’s three pastoral letters, written to encourage Timothy and Titus in their service of the Lord’s people. In the verses above, Paul discusses how God’s great salvation changes the lives of people individually so that they reflect His character. It involves a turning from the world and towards godliness and self-control. While not directly stated here, we understand from other passages that the believer doesn’t generate these signs of Christian growth from within; rather, God empowers us through His Holy Spirit so that we may exhibit His fruit (“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” in Galatians 5:22,23).

Yet, experiencing God’s great salvation doesn’t occur solely on a personal basis. The Church participates in and magnifies this salvation through demonstrating the love of Christ to one another and to a watching world. Jesus Himself explained that we would show ourselves to be His disciples by our love.

This idea reminded me of 1 John 3:18: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” This week, I have seen many Grace Church family members loving in this manner. It points directly to the great salvation that Jesus has bought for us – and the amazing and lavish love of God. I thank you so much for serving and loving so faithfully. You are a great encouragement to me and many others!

How would you like to see change in your own heart? How could you trust God more to form you more into the image of Christ?

Lord Jesus, thank You for all that You won for us at the Cross and with Your Resurrection. We would like to honor You in the way that Paul describes in this passage. Help us to demonstrate Your love in a hurting, broken world. Clarify our vision of Your purpose for our lives and for the Church in these difficult days. Strengthen us with a full knowledge of Your blessed hope. In Your Name, amen.