November 14: Titus 2:11-14
Key Verse: Titus 2:14
who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Devotion:
God wants us all to have full and free access to salvation… What does that mean? During the times of the Old Testament there were more and more hints about God making a way by which all people would be able to find salvation, but most authors have limited this to the people of Israel because, to them, that was the only ‘known world’ which was pure enough and also chosen by God.
When Jesus came to live amongst us He continued to teach us this was not going to be limited to the people of Israel but the everyone in the world, no matter where they come from: This is why Paul was sent out to give the gospel freely to all people outside of Israel.
The key elements of this are for us to turn our back on earthly ways, to ungodliness and things like greed, pride and lust. Instead Jesus wants us to turn toward self-control, upright ways and everything which is pure even though we live in an uncontrolled, unrighteous world. If we are eager to turn away from the unrighteous things and accept the righteous ways of Christ, then we have taken the first step.
Keeping Christ close and in the centre of our lives we have an advantage over the world because we have the guidance and strength to turn away from the ways of the world. Christ wants us presented to God as pure and innocent in every way – that is why He laid His life down for us!
Points to Ponder:
Do you think you are not good enough to be a Christian?
Don’t you know Christ died so you can be?