Episode 33: Titus 3:3-7
Transcription
Today’s verse is 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.
Let’s pray together.
Jesus, right now it feels like we are living in the first part of these verses. Sometimes I look around at the world, even the church, and I think that there is no evidence we are Your children at all. There is such deception and fear and selfishness and rebellion. We speak however we want, we act however we want, we treat each other however we want. It’s all about us. It’s all about what we deserve or what we can accomplish or grasp. Darkness lies over us, dividing and conquering, and we seem to surrender without even noticing how smothered we are.
Yes, even in the season of Your birth, it can be so easy to feel this way and to view the world as hopeless. But the truth is much greater than that and these verses show us how. Because we do live in the aftermath of Your kind and radical life on earth. You forever changed the rules and I pray we can submit to them today.
Your mercy looked down on us and said that You would save us. Before the foundations of the world, Your kindness knew how You would do it. I know that I am nothing without You. All my best deeds are really just filthy rags. It is through You and You alone that my soul comes into fruition. You have washed me, You have renewed me, You have justified me, You have given me hope.
Holy Spirit, please renew our minds and hearts. Fill us afresh with Your hope, Your strength, Your power. When we fall, pick us back up again. Save us from uttering that mean thought, from acting so selfishly, from being deceived by the enemy’s lies. You are always there, closer than we can imagine, and there is nothing You cannot do. Jesus presented You to us as our Friend and Counselor, the Comfort we needed because He was no longer with us physically on the earth. You are more than up for the job, allow me to hold Your hand and be led by You.
Grace said that we should be saved and grace set us free. Help us to accept this grace, Jesus. Open up our hearts, open up our deaf ears, and set free our blind eyes. Help us to understand who You are and to love You, to follow Your example, and to be lovers and doers of grace. I want to live forever with You, to live my whole life here with hope, knowing that You have prepared a place for me. You will come again to lead me there as a Bridegroom.
Save me, Father, from the idea that I can accomplish this on my own, that I can save myself, that I can earn my salvation, that I am good enough on my own. Show me the faults in my own heart, cleanse me of them, help me do better, not to accomplish something, but simply out of gratitude for all You have done for me. Because You have taught me to love as You do and I want to show that love to others.
Today as we walk through the steps of life, whisper in our hearts our next right thing. Help us to hold our tongues or speak love. Let us help our neighbor and fight for their rights instead of our own. Let us be merciful and gracious, just as You are. Let us listen to Your Spirit above all, as He teaches us our identity in You. Above all, break untruths over us, allowing us to see with clarity, helping our steps to be redirected toward Your path, the one that points to Jesus, to being a change for God, because we ourselves have been changed.
Give us courage and wisdom today. In Your name I pray. Amen.
