Titus 3:3-7
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Earlier in this passage Paul tells Titus to teach different people that they need to be self-controlled about five or six times. My problem is when I am foolish or disobedient or enslaved by passions or pleasures it's usually because I am trying to control things myself. Even after all these years I have to continue to fight the urge to do it on my own, to try in my own strength to earn some kind of brownie points with God by "acting" righteous. But really if I've died to self it is the Holy Spirit that is in control. It says right there that God generously pours the Holy Spirit out on us. What is it that keeps me from taking advantage of that?
God's kindness and love, His mercy and grace are always things that make my eyes well up when I think about them. (like even now) I keep going back to the cardboard testimony that read, "I'm more sinful than you know. I'm more forgiven than I deserve." God knows it all. All the muck and darkness that is kept hidden from everybody else. And He still loves and forgives me. Wow. Now that is powerful.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment