"For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit...." (Titus 3:4, 5)
How could anyone ever tire of this text?!? Every quarter it brings new, refreshing blessing to me. Paul, in the Holy Spirit, gives commands concerning behavior for the Followers of Jesus. He reminds us, however, lest we should consider ourselves superior, better than, or more deserving than others when we do some things rightly, to remember how and what we were before we submitted our lives to Jesus Christ, "foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving lusts and pleasures...."
Then what happened? Did we suddenly "get smart?" Did our innate superior sense of morality take over? No, nothing remotely like that. Something, rather, SomeOne, "appeared," Jesus Who is, "the love of God our Savior toward man...." Jesus appeared. Jesus shed His Most Precious Blood. Jesus gave His Life willingly and eagerly for you and me. "....Foolish, disobedient, deceived," we were on our way to destruction and the fires of Hell. Now because, "....the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared," you and I are saved, preserved, kept safe for Eternity, "not by works of righteousness which we have done," or can ever do.
Perhaps you are experiencing some doubt today. Most would never admit it; but deep down there are times when our own sense of unworthiness creeps in, and we wonder how He could love us. Will Jesus really see me through this season. Or maybe it's more than a "season." Maybe it's been all your life, struggle, nothing ever seems to go right, at least for very long. Let Jesus "appear" afresh to you right now. Allow the Holy Spirit to remind you just how loved, cared for you, "washing of regeneration," you really are. In the midst of sickness and poverty over the centuries, many who have gone before us have experienced similar feelings. And many have experienced persecution and suffering beyond our imagination. Yet Fanny Crosby, blind from shortly after birth, could wright, "Jesus doeth all things well." He does.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I say with Fanny Crosby, "Jesus doeth all things well"--------- because You do. Amen.
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Fall of 2014 Mission: Washington, DC. So far we have $200.00 towards the mission.
How could anyone ever tire of this text?!? Every quarter it brings new, refreshing blessing to me. Paul, in the Holy Spirit, gives commands concerning behavior for the Followers of Jesus. He reminds us, however, lest we should consider ourselves superior, better than, or more deserving than others when we do some things rightly, to remember how and what we were before we submitted our lives to Jesus Christ, "foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving lusts and pleasures...."
Then what happened? Did we suddenly "get smart?" Did our innate superior sense of morality take over? No, nothing remotely like that. Something, rather, SomeOne, "appeared," Jesus Who is, "the love of God our Savior toward man...." Jesus appeared. Jesus shed His Most Precious Blood. Jesus gave His Life willingly and eagerly for you and me. "....Foolish, disobedient, deceived," we were on our way to destruction and the fires of Hell. Now because, "....the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared," you and I are saved, preserved, kept safe for Eternity, "not by works of righteousness which we have done," or can ever do.
Perhaps you are experiencing some doubt today. Most would never admit it; but deep down there are times when our own sense of unworthiness creeps in, and we wonder how He could love us. Will Jesus really see me through this season. Or maybe it's more than a "season." Maybe it's been all your life, struggle, nothing ever seems to go right, at least for very long. Let Jesus "appear" afresh to you right now. Allow the Holy Spirit to remind you just how loved, cared for you, "washing of regeneration," you really are. In the midst of sickness and poverty over the centuries, many who have gone before us have experienced similar feelings. And many have experienced persecution and suffering beyond our imagination. Yet Fanny Crosby, blind from shortly after birth, could wright, "Jesus doeth all things well." He does.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I say with Fanny Crosby, "Jesus doeth all things well"--------- because You do. Amen.
***********************
Fall of 2014 Mission: Washington, DC. So far we have $200.00 towards the mission.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
