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October 13 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His Mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:3-5. Paul is writing to Titus and explaining how we are to associate with all men. We are to be characterized by a gentle spirit, all the time realizing that the very habits and sins that our neighbors commit, we also committed in the past. But now, with a new beginning in Christ, we are to look upon others with an understanding and forgiving spirit—looking for opportunity to come to their aid by showing them the grace that is in Christ Jesus. All of this description is in line with the Beatitude "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). In essence we to identify with the unbeliever, or even the believer, who stumbles into sin. We are to be there for them to reveal the forgiveness that is in Christ. We are to be there to point them toward repentance, all the while remembering that we have also experienced that same call. We are never to give any pretense of self-righteousness, for that would only turn others away. It is only God’s grace that gives us the character to do this. We are showing the very character of Christ. We may be the only ‘Christ’ they will ever see. Father, we are amazed at the grace that allows us to represent You. Only by Your power and love can we sustain the character that fulfills Your desire to reach others. Thank You for Jesus, whose sacrifice made all of this possible. Amen. |
