Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
[He saved us so that we might become heirs] … having the hope of eternal life.
Summary: Buying a house is hard work. It takes determination and dedication. These same qualities are valuable to us as we wait for our new heavenly home.
Continue reading “Titus 3:7 (c) — New House”
He saved us … so that … we might become heirs …
Summary: There are specific rules of law that pertain to a last will and testament. Paul, knowing the law, uses this terminology to explain something very important.
Continue reading “Titus 3:7 (b) — Last Will and Testament”
… so that, having been justified by his grace …
Summary: Paul’s description of being saved arrives at the concept of justification. Do we need more than we already have? It turns out we do. We need to be justified before God.
Continue reading “Titus 3:7 (a) — Arrived”
…whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior …
Summary: Today’s passage raises the question, “Who is ‘us’?” Paul gives us several clues as we look back over his letter to Titus.
Continue reading “Titus 3:6 — Poured Out”
He saved us through … renewal by the Holy Spirit …
Summary: Like a TV show where a contractor completely makes over an old house into something brand new, the Holy Spirit renews us.
Continue reading “Titus 3:5 (e) — Renovation”
He saved us … because of his mercy.
Summary: Putting ourselves in God’s place for a moment feels weird. Yet there is something to be learned in making the attempt. We discover that creating humanity also created the possibility of family.
Continue reading “Titus 3:5 (c) — God’s Dilemma”
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared …
Summary: The word “kindness” is sometimes misunderstood to refer to someone who never says a mean word. As we look at today’s passage, we discover that what is important is the moral quality of the person or being the word refers to.
Continue reading “Titus 3:4 — A Kind of Kindness”
… to redeem us from all wickedness …
Summary: Being redeemed is not like snapping your fingers. It is a process. There is a payment to be made, and then there is a collection process. Eventually we see our Redeemer face to face. At that point we have been redeemed.
Continue reading “Titus 2:14 (b) — Up and Down”
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
Summary: Knowing our Lord and talking about him are two different things. We can do one without the other. However, when we know the Lord and talk about him, the way we talk says as much as the words we use.
Continue reading “Titus 2:11 — Unspeakable Love”
Then they can urge the younger women to love their … children
Summary: Paul wants young women to care for their children as God cares for us. The word used in the NIV is “love,” but in this case, it means “caring like a friend.”
Continue reading “Titus 2:4 (b) — The Source of All Knowledge”