Good morning all!
Father, while we look to You for all we face and all we experience, we know that You are always at work in our life. Help us to see the power of Your hand and the wonder of Your grace, Your word declares that You will withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly. I pray we trust You to know what’s right for us, to know what’s good and to know what’s next, Amen. Have you ever asked yourself that question? It may have been after you made a decision or perhaps completed a task, what’s next?
Titus 3
Tit 3:1 KJV – Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
You should remind folks to listen to those in authority and be obedient, being ready to do the things that are right,
Tit 3:2 KJV – To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
And NOT speak poorly about ANYONE, nor argue, but be gentle and truly humble to ALL men.
Tit 3:3 KJV – For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
After all, we were once foolish, and didn’t listen being misled, looking to satisfy our own emotions and desires, looking to retaliate and thinking hateful thoughts, hating each other.
Tit 3:4 KJV – But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
After we were fooled, God revealed His mercy and love towards us,
Tit 3:5 KJV – Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Not because of anything we did, it was according to His loving kindness that He saved us from that lifestyle, by the washing of our mind through His word and renewing His spirit in us.
Point to Ponder
Did you notice how the passage starts? You should remind them…of what? To be ready to do a GOOD work. Of course Paul is speaking to Titus, he’s encouraging him to remind the church to always be ready to do good to those in authority in our life. Know you may ask, who has authority in my life? If you’re like me, that might end up being a very short list…at first. The truth is most of don’t want to be subject to anyone, it’s usually followed by thoughts of what might appear to be a lack of freedom or liberty and well, we can’t have that after all…it’s MY life. Or is it?
Who is the magistrate in your life? What is a magistrate? The Greek word says chief ruler, last time I checked there’s only One Chief Ruler of our life and His name is Jesus Christ. And if He’s the chief ruler what does that make us? Gal 5:13 KJV – For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. He is the Chief Ruler and we are servants, our liberty and freedom is found in serving each other in love not ignoring one another. We should be subject to one another…ALL…clothed in humility…the clothes always make the man! Paul said we also were SOMETIMES foolish and deceived, how do we know when that is? We serve our own feelings, we speak poorly about others and instead of serving in love…we hate…therefore we are deceived. There’s no way around this one with God, you can’t say you love and serve the Chief Ruler of your life and then turn around and hate people…that’s foolish. Why do you suppose Paul said “but after that”? After what? After our foolish behavior look what shows up? A Saviour! Kindness and love showed up, what was next?
FORGIVENESS, what did you expect the God of love was going to do to us? Crack us over the head with a bat? Love is His only motivation and that NEVER changes. Again He clearly states it’s NOT by works, we don’t work for God’s love or for His forgiveness. If you have to work for love or affection that’s called manipulation, God’s not cruel nor un-kind…He doesn’t say do this and then I’ll love or if you do that I take away My love. His forgiveness produces change, a change in our heart, it gives birth to new thoughts…like say love and forgiveness instead of hate and envy. You and I can’t serve each other in love and speak poorly about one another, He said not to argue instead be gentle and meek to ALL men…ALL is ALL…it’s not conditional, it’s not by works, it’s by the appearing of Christ in your life. There should be a washing of His word in our mind, this is the regeneration…it means a new birth and a renewing of the Spirit…it means a complete change for the better. What makes us complete? Jhn 5:9 KJV – And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. This was the man that was crippled and couldn’t walk…there’s only one walk that will make us whole…complete…it is to walk like Christ. The reason we’re laying on that mat and can’t walk is because we don’t believe we’re forgiven, but once we know God’s forgiveness we’ll walk and forgive likewise…it’s the only way to be made whole.
Bottom line
What’s next? Rom 4:8 NLT – Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin. Your record is clear…get off the mat and walk as Christ.
Let’s be kind to ALL, In Him Phil
Faith – Family – Friends
