May 30, 2013
Once you've surrendered your will to the will of the Lord, you will never be the same again. You cannot be. With His mercy HE saved us. What we do after that reflects our gratitude to Him. Our works reflect the change in our lives. It is in that order. It (works) never makes the change, works is instead the result and evidence of the change. Titus 3:5 - "It was not because of good deeds we did to be right with him. He saved us through the washing that made us new people through the Holy Spirit."
Now that you are changed, GO—DO! Paul tells Titus to make sure people understand these things. Believers should be careful to use their lives for doing good. Titus 3:8b - "These things are good and will help everyone."
Then Paul adds a qualifier. Titus 3:9 - "Stay away from those.." people who just want to argue and cause division. They focus on things that are not important (useless family histories, the law, etc.) and "stir up war everyday. The poison of vipers is on their lips." (Psalm 140). Their actions do not help anyone. Titus 3:10–11 - "After a first and second warning, avoid someone who causes arguments. You can know that such people are evil and sinful; their own sins prove them wrong."
Someone who loves to argue causes division wherever they go. We have witnessed this first hand. It is the effect of the Peanut's character who has a dust cloud surrounding him wherever he goes. When I was close to my sister, there was division between myself and my Mom, Dad, and my brother. When the ties between my sister and myself were broken, the division between myself and other family member completely disappeared and peace was restored. Sometimes it is only when you step back from a situation that you can begin to see the effect of someone who just wants to argue and cause division.
The forced separation between my sister and myself is one of the things I am grateful for. The lawsuit my sister and brother-in-law brought against us was intended to put us into bondage, but what it actually did was free me from a very unhealthy relationship with my sister. For that I am grateful. Thank you, LORD.
Next Entry: Philemon 1:1–25
Once you've surrendered your will to the will of the Lord, you will never be the same again. You cannot be. With His mercy HE saved us. What we do after that reflects our gratitude to Him. Our works reflect the change in our lives. It is in that order. It (works) never makes the change, works is instead the result and evidence of the change. Titus 3:5 - "It was not because of good deeds we did to be right with him. He saved us through the washing that made us new people through the Holy Spirit."
Now that you are changed, GO—DO! Paul tells Titus to make sure people understand these things. Believers should be careful to use their lives for doing good. Titus 3:8b - "These things are good and will help everyone."
Then Paul adds a qualifier. Titus 3:9 - "Stay away from those.." people who just want to argue and cause division. They focus on things that are not important (useless family histories, the law, etc.) and "stir up war everyday. The poison of vipers is on their lips." (Psalm 140). Their actions do not help anyone. Titus 3:10–11 - "After a first and second warning, avoid someone who causes arguments. You can know that such people are evil and sinful; their own sins prove them wrong."
Someone who loves to argue causes division wherever they go. We have witnessed this first hand. It is the effect of the Peanut's character who has a dust cloud surrounding him wherever he goes. When I was close to my sister, there was division between myself and my Mom, Dad, and my brother. When the ties between my sister and myself were broken, the division between myself and other family member completely disappeared and peace was restored. Sometimes it is only when you step back from a situation that you can begin to see the effect of someone who just wants to argue and cause division.
The forced separation between my sister and myself is one of the things I am grateful for. The lawsuit my sister and brother-in-law brought against us was intended to put us into bondage, but what it actually did was free me from a very unhealthy relationship with my sister. For that I am grateful. Thank you, LORD.
Next Entry: Philemon 1:1–25
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