Readings for today: Ephesians 5-6, Titus 1-3
We have a tendency to make things so complicated. I was talking recently with someone on my staff about the recommendations of our insurance company. In an effort to eliminate all potential risk (and therefore the need to pay out any claims), they have given us a set of recommendations that, if implemented to their fullest extent, would actually defeat the purposes of ministry. We faced a similar dilemma when we build an addition onto our building. The police department recommended we have a single, controllable point of entry and egress while the fire department required us to have doors that opened outside in every classroom. I can’t tell you how many meetings I have been in locally, regionally, and nationally where new policies are created and debated in an effort to eliminate every single potential issue, no matter how exceptional and rare. The results are policy manuals that are several inches thick. Elaborate security procedures in case of fire or a threat. Restrictions on what we can or cannot do as a ministry to reach people with the gospel. It’s all so complicated.
Thankfully, the gospel is clear and simple. I love how the Apostle Paul describes it for his mentee, Titus, as he begins his own ministry in Crete. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.” (Titus 2:11-14 CSB) This is a great summary of the Christian life. God’s grace appeared and brought us salvation. We didn’t earn it. We didn’t achieve it. We didn’t buy it or strive for it. The gospel not only saves us, it instructs us on how to live a life that honors God. A life that is rich and full of eternal purpose and meaning. It’s a life marked by self-denial and the setting aside of all godlessness and worldly lusts so we can live completely and fully for God. It’s a life designed to get us ready for another world, even as we live in this world. A world that will come when Jesus Christ appears again in glory. Jesus is the embodiment of God’s saving grace and He is the one who redeemed us from all lawlessness and godlessness, washed us clean from our sin, and gave us a new heart with new desires to serve Him and do the works of the Kingdom.
When you read these words, how do you feel? Do you feel encouraged or discouraged? Do you feel uplifted or convicted? Do you feel like these words describe you? Describe your understanding of the Christian life? Or do these words seem foreign to you? New to you? Have you experienced the saving grace of God in your life? Do you find yourself longing to live under God’s commands or do they seem like more of a burden to you? Are you waiting for the blessed hope of Christ’s return or are you putting your hopes in the things of this world? Spend some time praying and reflecting on these questions and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to a deeper understanding and embrace of the gospel in your life.
Readings for tomorrow: 1 Timothy 1-6