Skip to main content

Wednesday... Here is a three letter word that can make such a difference.


Wednesday... Here is a three letter word that can make such a difference.

Over in Paul's letter to Titus he shows two different stories connected by the three letter word, but. 

In chapter 3 verse 3 he gives one side of the story and it is the side that so many people are living in. They don't have to but they do. He says (NLT), "Once we too were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other."

The MESSAGE says, "It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hater and hating back." Is that where you are, today? You don't have to be. God has a big but for you to see that will make all the difference in your life.

Verses 4-7 (NLT) says, "But - When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously pour out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life." 

The MESSAGE says in verses 6 & 7, "Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there's more to come - an eternity of life! You can count on this."

That can be yours. You may be living on the wrong side of the but, but you can come over to the unbelievable side. Just come to Jesus and ask Him to do His work in and through you. He wants to pour out new life so generously in you. He really does. 

And then verse 8 (NLT) says, "This is a trustworthy saving, and I want to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves in doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial to everyone." 

Paul wanted to share this with Titus and I wanted to share this with you. Would you just stop and ask God through Jesus Christ to take you to the other side of the but. "But - When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us." That's what He did for me and that is what He wants to do for you.  And that is such Good News, isn't it? Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do

Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT), "When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers - the moon and the stars you set in place - what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?" Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do. No, not the fact that I can go out my front door and look out at night at the marvels of the sky. I can do that and it is amazing and it takes my breath away each time I see it. Yes, that is a fact but the reality of who did that and the wisdom and the faith that I have to believe that and to marvel that the one who did that cares about me makes such a difference in how I live my life. Yes, God really does. That is so wonderful for us to believe. And that is why faith and wisdom are so important. Now whatever belief you have at how that marvel happened must also be believed through faith. And the sad thing to me is that more and more people have been taught that there is no God and therefore he did not have a h...
Post a Comment
Read more

Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together!

Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together! They really do. And this is what caught my attention this morning as I was reading Proverbs 2. Verse 1 (NRSVUE) says, "My child, if you accept my words and treasure my commands within you." Verse 3 (NIV), "Indeed i f you call  out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, Verse 4, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, Verse 5, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." And verses 9-11, " Then you will understand what is right and just and fair - every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." There will always be some effort we must do, some ifs for the thens to be realized in our lives. So many of us want to understand without the ifs. But the thens are so worth, so very worth the effort. Verses 5-6 in the Ampli...
Post a Comment
Read more

Wednesday... Our unless can turn into useless.

Wednesday... Our unless can turn into useless.  It really can. I have found that unless I give the correct email of my wife then I can't get what I wanted. I put an extra i in her email and I have been working for 5 days to get it changed. Unless has been useless. The writer of Psalm 94 uses this word and shows how important it is. Verses 17-19 (NLT) says, "Unless the Lord had helped me, I would have soon settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, 'I'm slipping!' but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer." "Unless the Lord had helped me." So many people go on and on and on striving to live their life on their own but they keep slipping and doubting and living without hope and cheer. Yes the Lord has such unfailing love for us, he really does but unless we have a relationship with him and we turn to him and ask him for help then the unless turns in to useless because h...
Post a Comment
Read more