Friday, July 19, 2024
Growing up, I was always taught to follow the commands of the Bible, the Word of God. However, it was not until my adult years that I fully appreciated the gift of intimately knowing God and receiving his personal instruction. Connecting with God through the Bible is a privilege.
Unfortunately, there are still many people who view God’s commands as blatant restrictions rather than instructions for living holy and blameless lives. We should not view even the most difficult biblical teachings as restrictions but rather as acts of love provided by God.
In Titus 2:11-13, Paul reminds Titus of the importance of following God’s instruction—that we are to live upright, moral lives through Christ. In this evil world, there are seemingly endless paths to follow, each promising that it is the correct way to live. However, there is only one true path that leads to righteousness and salvation—the one paved for us by God through Jesus.
Titus 2:11-13
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
God’s salvation has been extended to all people through his unending grace. He is so merciful that he sent his Son to earth to save us from our sins (John 3:16). Everyone has a choice to make: follow God’s ways, or continue to be stuck in the ways of the world and sin.
Unfortunately, the Christian walk is not always an easy one—we will inevitably endure suffering and experience hardship. It’s easy to lose sight of our purpose, and it’s even easier to lose sight of the importance of abstaining from sinful pleasures. In this morally corrupt world, the promise of an eternity in heaven can seem so far away, while the pull toward sinful pleasures can be so strong.
Paul emphasizes that we must look forward with hope to when Jesus comes back in glory. Let us rest knowing that following God’s instruction not only leads to righteousness now but also to joy and peace in the world to come.
Questions:
How can we remember to follow God’s instruction in our daily lives?
What is the importance of fully following the Bible and its teachings?
Next Steps:
Join a Group this Summer Semester to connect with like-minded Christ followers who will hold you accountable in your daily life.
This week, read Chapter 2 of Titus and meditate on God’s teachings given to Titus through Paul.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me your Word as an instructional guide to living a holy and righteous life. Help me to remember the importance of following your teachings in my daily life, and convict me of any sin that I am still holding on to. Help me also to extend your teachings to others in my daily life and show them the transformation that comes through Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Titus 2:14
“He [Jesus] gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”
Today’s post was written by Isabelle Billnitzer, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.