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?
