REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on May 14, 2014. Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“So That We Can Become Something . . .”
Titus 2:11-14
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. [12] It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, [13] while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, [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.”
My parents did not make a lot of money, but one thing I remember my mother saying to me while growing up was, “If there’s ever something you really want to do, don’t ever let money be a reason not to. Just ask us, we’ll find a way.”
You would think this statement would have the result of us children not being able to recognize proper limits, always asking our parents to pay for this, that and the other thing. Actually, it had the opposite effect. Knowing my parents worked long hours each day, and how frugally they lived (watering down the shampoo and dishwashing liquid to make it last longer, washing Ziploc bags to reuse them), when my mother said this to me, I was moved by her heart. I knew that whatever I asked for would cost them something, meaning some sacrifice on their part, so this made me very careful about asking them for anything at all.
So how does the grace of God teach us to say “no” to ungodliness when it seems like it could be giving us permission to sin all we want? It happens when we remember that his grace is not only about us being able to receive something, but that it is also about how he is always willing to pay for something. God’s heart is to be generous with his grace, to let it be free-flowing and abundant, enough to cover our every misstep, careless action, even deliberate rebellion. But the only way we cannot take advantage of it is to remember the cost.
Remember that Jesus Christ paid a price for a purpose – so that we could become a certain kind of people (v. 14). Like a donor who supports a medical student in financial need because he wants to see that student graduate and become a doctor, when Jesus paid the price for us, it was because he wanted to see us become something – a redeemed people, purified from sin, living as God intended. As recipients of his grace, how are we doing at honoring his wishes?
Prayer: Dear God, I thank You for your dreams for me. You gave Yourself for me so that I could become someone who is truly free, upright, godly, and pure. I am eager to do what is good. Would You help me to live up to that calling today? In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: 2 Chronicles 18
Lunch Break Study
Read Galatians 6:7-10: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. [8] Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. [9] Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. [10] Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Questions to Consider
- In what way can we often be deceived (v. 7)? Why do you think the metaphor of sowing and reaping is so appropriate to make this point?
- What is the result of living to please the flesh vs. living to please the Spirit (v. 8)?
- What encouragement does the Bible give for us to do good (v. 9)? What good can we do to others today?
Notes
- We can sometimes think that our sins will never really have any serious negative effect in our lives. With farming, there is a time delay between an initial act (sowing in spring) and the final result (harvest in fall), but there is a certain and definite relationship between the two acts.
- Living to please the flesh leads to destruction; living to please the Spirit leads to life.
- Though there may be a time delay, there will most certainly be a reward if we persevere in doing good. We need to keep reminding ourselves that there are good consequences for our good actions as well.
Evening Reflection
Did I live my life today as the person God intended me to be? What good did I do? What harvest will I reap in the future as a result of the things I did today?