Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Titus 2:14
He 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.

Wow! I don’t know about you, but this verse gives me goosebumps.

Let’s take a moment to really contemplate exactly what it is saying. Jesus endured horrible suffering and an excruciating death so we can be freed from the punishment of all wrongdoing. Our filth and shame are completely washed away, just like that. Seems too good to be true, but rest assured it's not.

Jesus loved us so much that he paid the ultimate price, giving us the opportunity to live as God had planned. He wants us to live a full and adventurous life with him, following his example, loving others, doing good deeds, and abstaining from sinful ways.

That’s awesome, right? But here’s the thing, we have a part to play too.

First: we actually have to say yes to what he is offering. While Jesus loves everyone, unfortunately, not everyone loves him. While forgiveness and hope of eternal life are free gifts from God, it is up to us to accept them. This means investing time to know Jesus, confessing our sins, and inviting him into our hearts. When we do this, we receive the overwhelming gift of grace and mercy from our loving Father.

So does this mean we believe once, get forgiveness, and then go on with our old lives? No! Once we believe and accept Christ into our hearts, we become his children. The old is gone, and we become new, born again.

Second: We are still humans on this earth and subject to trials, tribulations, and temptations. If we tried to overcome this world on our own merit, we would fail miserably. Jesus knew that, so he sent the Holy Spirit to dwell inside us when we accept him as our Savior. We must call on the Holy Spirit to keep us on the right track on our adventure with Christ.

Finally: You must love Jesus with all your heart, soul, and mind. The more you draw near to him, the easier it becomes to live the life God planned, serving him and spreading the Good News to others.

Is it easy? No, but doing so will lead to a rich, satisfying, and purposeful life.

Questions:
Have you accepted Jesus’ free gift of forgiveness?

Are you suffering through trials, tribulations, or temptations? Have you called on the Holy Spirit to help you through them?

What are you doing to grow nearer to Jesus?

Next Steps:
Thoroughly evaluate where you are in your journey with Jesus.

Take time to study the book of Titus and absorb it as if Paul was speaking directly to you.

Prayer:
Loving Father, you have made the free gift of forgiveness mine for the accepting. Help me to realize how valuable this gift is and to cherish it always, never wasting it. Help me to always call on the Holy Spirit when faced with challenges and temptations. I am so thankful for the love you have shown me. Help me to share that love and the Good News of all you have done in my life with others. In Jesus’ precious 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 Ned Miller, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.