Getting a Do Over

 

Getting a Do Over

Titus 3: Remind your people to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey them, and to be ready to do good in every way. ² Tell them not to speak evil of anyone, but to be peaceful and friendly, and always to show a gentle attitude toward everyone. ³ For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and wrong. We were slaves to passions and pleasures of all kinds. We spent our lives in malice and envy; others hated us and we hated them. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was revealed, ⁵ he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us.

 

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After taking the bait of an argument, I said all the wrong words. My apology could not erase what was said. After sliding on ice, I hit a pole, damaging the passenger and my car. Grousing about the weather could not undo the damage. After taking a test, I realized I made a costly mistake. It was too late.

 

• I wish I could have a do over in many instances.
• I wish I could rewind time and not do or say what was done or said.
• I wish I could install a second chance button for times when life seems to go wrong.

 

Paul reminds everyone to act peacefully because “we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient and wrong.” He then explains the root of the solution, namely JESUS. He said “HE saved us.” Paul then explains that the HOLY SPIRIT “give us new birth and new life by washing us.”

 

My Observation

• I was foolish until I met the LORD.
• I was lost and a slave to my own passion and pleasures until JESUS rescued me.
• I was the problem BUT GOD gave me a second chance.

 

Getting a do over in life would be nice. I mean, I look back at the mountain of mistakes I have made and would love to erase them. But they linger. JESUS decided to do something about them. HE died for every mistake I have made. HE was raised from the dead and placed in authority over all. HE sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live in me so I could get a second chance on eternal life.

 

This do over enables me to live a life that is pleasing to the one who sacrificed HIMSELF. This is a loving relationship that knows no bounds. There is no limit to the amount of love poured out on me when I realize where true love comes from. I gladly give my life to HIM and I am thankful for a second chance.

 

Challenge

• Why do people need to be reminded by the writer?
• Have you ever done or said something that you regretted?
• Will you give your regrets to JESUS today by believing you need HIM for salvation so HE can give you a new life through the HOLY SPIRIT?

Freed Woman

Freed Woman

Galatians 4: ²⁸ Now, you, my friends, are God's children as a result of his promise, just as Isaac was. ²⁹ At that time the son who was born in the usual way persecuted the one who was born because of God's Spirit; and it is the same now. ³⁰ But what does the scripture say? It says, “Send the slave woman and her son away; for the son of the slave woman will not have a part of the father's property along with the son of the free woman.” ³¹ So then, my friends, we are not the children of a slave woman but of a free woman.

 

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Hearing “GOD loves you” or “Trust in the LORD” got on my nerves. My mother and grandmothers were trying their best to impress something special on me but I wasn’t hearing it.

 

• I wanted to do what “I” wanted to do.
• I wanted to rebel and show everyone that I did not need GOD.
• I wanted to just be angry and full of rage.

 

GOD’s amazing promise was explained by Paul. Through two women, Hagar and Sarah, two covenants were displayed. One covenant was laced with mistrust, rules and disobedience, the other with belief, grace and freedom. Those who choose to believe will be freed.

 

My Observations

• Freedom is mine to choose.
• Accepting the fact that GOD owns everything frees me because I am in HIS family.
• Believing in JESUS is what set me free.

 

GOD chose some women to perform HIS amazing promise. HE redeemed mankind through a miraculous birth. HE grew up and raised women up from oppression so they too could be filled with HIS SPIRIT.

 

When the women were freed, there was no malice in them. They spoke about JESUS with excitement and fear. Many people believed because of their testimonies. I am glad I have had many women in my life who stood firm to the belief in JESUS.

 

Challenge

• What does it mean to be a child of GOD according to this passage?
• Have you ever devalued what a woman said?
• Will you ask GOD to look at the heart as HE does and see people as HE sees them so you can be added to HIS family and given freedom today?

Boundless Freedom

John 3: ³ Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’

⁴ ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’

⁵ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.” ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’

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Looking at the clock, I counted down the minutes. This was the last day of school and to top it off, I was graduating. So many thoughts raced into my mind as I contemplated what I would do with my “free” time. I was finally released from the oppression! Okay, well at least from school.

• Many times I dreamt of freedom.
• Many times I wished to be on my own.
• Many times I could not wait to be on my own schedule, doing my own thing.

Nicodemus was confused by the words of JESUS when HE said “You must be born again.” JESUS talked about being born of the SPIRIT, then HE likened this birth to the boundaries of the wind. No start and no end, the wind blows wherever it pleases.

• GOD wants me to be set free from human boundaries.
• GOD wants me to be able to see beyond obstacles.
• GOD wants me to be led by HIS SPIRIT instead of being driven by fear.

Being born again means I am a new creation. I am free from the boundaries I put on myself and from the chains other people try to throw on me. GOD becomes my leader and HE sends me wherever HE wants me to go, whenever HE chooses. Now the only constraint I have is GOD’s infinite power. I am glad to be free.

• What chains of control are you putting on people?
• Are you trying to measure your circumstance by what you can see?
• Will you allow GOD to lead you by HIS SPIRIT today so you can be connected to HIS endless power?

I’m on my way!

1 John 3:¹ See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

² Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³ All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

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Finally the program I had written was working flawlessly. I felt quite proud of myself for accomplishing such a task. In fact I thought I needed a promotion. “Who else could do work so masterfully?” I thought to myself. Well, maybe not that pompous, but I still thought “I” was pretty good.

My boss’s boss said I wasn’t ready but he would send me to training. I met some very experienced people in the class and I realized, I needed more time to grow.

• There are times that I think “I have arrived.”
• There are times that I think “I deserve whatever I seek to accomplish.”
• There are times that I think “I’m pretty good, why don’t others see my talents?”

Whenever I think more highly of myself than I should, I fall on my face. My confidence quickly turns into arrogance and I acquire a “deserving” attitude that is quite unbecoming. When GOD watches me pout at not getting my way, HE patiently waits on me.

• GOD has lavished great love on me.
• GOD has made me HIS child and is willing to take care of me.
• GOD has built a place for me and is purifying me day by day.

I am on a journey. My destination is to be like the one who created me. GOD knows I have not arrived. HE knows I will continue to sin and be selfish until HIS SON arrives. HE allows obstacles in my life to strengthen me for HIS purpose. Day by day HE corrects my mistakes and lavishes me with HIS love. I have not arrived but I’m on my way!

• Are you hard on yourself?
• Do you think you have failed?
• Can you realize GOD made you special?
• Do you believe you are the only one who can do what GOD made your for?
• Won’t you accept GOD’s tremendous love for you and ask HIM to open your eyes to your purpose?