John 13:34 “A new commandment
I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also
love one another.”
Titus 3:1-7 Remind them to be subject to
rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil
of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 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, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs
according to the hope of eternal life.
Paul tells us to remember where we have come from. Notice
he said to show humility to all men and speak evil of no one. Why? For we ourselves
were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and
pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. It is
amazing how people in the church forget what they were like before the grace of
God came into their life. When that happens they tend to get very haughty
and judgmental towards those still lost in their sin.
…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…
…the
kindness and the love of God our Savior… according to His mercy…these are
ways of our Lord God, these are the attitudes and acts bestowed upon us by Him …not by works of
righteousness which we have done…If God had waited till we ‘earned’
or ‘deserved’ His kindness, love and mercy, we would never know them, for we are
not – cannot - be worthy.
What are WE doing to show that same kindness, love
and mercy to others? As His emissaries to the world, how do we reflect Him to
those around us? Can passersby tell you follow Jesus just by the demeanor you
present in the grocery store line? Do we fight for a parking space or defer to
the other driver while our Christian bumper sticker rides on the back of the
car? Does our impatience with other drivers come out swinging in traffic and we
default to impatient driving ourselves ‘to show them’. Does the cross hanging
around our necks send one message while the words of our mouths say another? Are
we ‘sharing’ juicy information with other Christians in the name of ‘caring’? Do we
determine we are judge and jury condemning others for their sins as we sweep
our own under the rug so no one can see? Are we “too busy” to go to church and
worship the Lord, serve others, or share the Gospel? What have we done lately
for someone out of complete selflessness and love?
People are dying all around us in this world, in our
families, in our workplace, and in our neighborhoods without benefit of knowing
Jesus Christ. Can we really be so self-important and/or judgmental that we
stand back and let this happen when we ourselves are beneficiaries of …the
kindness and the love of God our Savior… according to His mercy…? No Christian
should ever be so busy as to ignore the senseless spiritual deaths going on all
around us. Ask God to give you opportunities to redeem the 168 hours He
has given you this week in selfless acts of love for others.
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