Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
January 4, 2024
Titus 3:4-8
4 But “when God our savior’s kindness and love appeared, 5 he saved us because of his mercy, not because of righteous things we had done. He did it through the washing of new birth and the renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 which God poured out upon us generously through Jesus Christ our savior. 7 So, since we have been made righteous by his grace, we can inherit the hope for eternal life.” 8 This saying is reliable. And I want you to insist on these things so that those who have come to believe in God might give careful attention to doing good. These things are good and useful for everyone.
Good Morning! God saves us because of his mercy!
So, since we have been made righteous by his grace, we can inherit the hope for eternal life.” 8 This saying is reliable. And I want you to insist on these things
This is wonderful language! Titus calls us to accept the hope for eternal life, not just something that we believe might happen in the future. Hope in this context becomes belief. We know God's grace has given us eternal life. As a response to this hope/knowledge, Titus wants us to insist upon all believers (us) to embrace God and choose to do good.
Most of us have experienced a time when we felt far from God. Maybe we chose to walk away, or maybe we were so consumed by “living” life that we wandered away without even realizing it. Think of a child who gets lost in a crowded mall. The child starts by playing or hiding from their parent, but at some point, they wander too far and start to panic or cry out. The protective parent comes running to rescue their child from their fears.
As adults, we think we are strong and can handle anything that life throws at us, but like a child who wanders just a little too far, we find ourselves lost or filled with despair. It can be very humbling to realize that we need help. In these moments, God, our protective parent, is patient and waits for us to cry out because God knows that we will reject help if we’re not ready to receive it.
As we mature in our faith, we must move from unsubstantiated hope to belief. “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto him against that day.”
I hope - - - I believe - - - I know
Gracious God, Thank you for this beautiful gift of life. We are your unworthy children who are sometimes too proud to call upon your name. Thank you for waiting for us. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God will never let us go.
On this eleventh day of Christmas, shout Hallelujah! Pastor Liz
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