GREENE STREET LETTERS: Titus

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Titus

I have been camped in Titus 2:11-13

Verse 11
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
Grace....
One of the most misunderstood nature of God. Grace is not God's "unmerited" favor. It isn't God giving us something we don't deserve. It isn't even a prayer we say at meal time.
Grace is the empowering presence of God in me that enables me to be who I was created to be and do what God created me to do.
Grace is a force.
Grace is a power.
Grace is God!
Noticed that the grace has appeared to all men.
Just like in Joel where he says, "I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh." That doesn't mean that all flesh will receive it. It means that it is offered.

Verse 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.
Grace teaches us.....
So if Grace is teaching, what's my part?
To listen and learn and do.
Grace is the teacher and empower-er (how do you like that word?) that helps me to navigate through this present age with all its enticements and temptations.
You don't hear much about self-control any more do you? What you do hear is "live life to the fullest" which is kind of secret catch phrase that means "feed your sinful nature". Sounds contrary to what God is saying in Titus.
Notice also that these godly lives are to be lived out here and now. The mindset that follows some folks around is "live for today and go to heaven tomorrow." Wouldn't it be a hoot if God gave us this life to learn how to live so when it was over, we'd have an inkling of how to live in heaven?

Verse 13
While we wait for the blessed hope---the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
To some, it will not be a glorious appearing, but rather a confirmation and condemnation of a life spent in sin. A life that rejected the goodness and salvation that God offered.
What a terrible thought. To suddenly see Jesus. The real Jesus, coming back and you know in your heart of hearts you have rejected him. So you cry out to be saved. You cry out for Jesus to have mercy, but it's too late.
I praise God this morning for the blessed hope of his return. I am comforted by it. There is nothing here in this world that has my affection or love.

I guess how you read and view this posting this morning is kind of found in where your relationship with Christ is.
I pray that they are words of hope and encouragement.
Words that strengthen you and give you resolve to live today for Jesus.

Until tomorrow....
God on you.....
mb

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Looking At The World Through Cracked Lens

As ol' Paul wrote in his Corinthian letters.."We see in part and we know in part." Now what piece of this bit of wisdom do we not get? I wish to not run around acting and trying to be some sort of Biblical G00-Ru (I meant to spell it wrong). Or a sage of sages.

I simply want to be able to communicate some of what God has given to me. Why? Do I think what I get is better than what you may have received from Him? Nope. But I do think encouragement comes when we share our daily story of struggle and victory in an effort to encourage each other.

Thanks for letting me share.

Time to soldier on..

mbb

Our Statement of Faith

We believe that God is the eternal king. He is an infinite, unchangeable Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power and love. From all eternity He exists as the One Living and True God in three persons of one substance, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit equal in power and glory. we believe that God created mankind in His image, male and female, for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth. Under the temptation of Satan, our original parents fell from grace, bringing sin, sickness and God's judgment of death to the earth. Through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God's good creation. Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam's original sin. Human beings are born into sin, subject to God's judgment of death and captive to Satan's kingdom of darkness. We believe that Jesus, God's Son, was sent to this world, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary, fully God and fully man in one person. He is humanity as God intended us to be. Jesus was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit, ushering in God's kingdom reign on earth, overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation, preaching the good news of salvation, healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead. Jesus' atoning death on the cross took God's judgment for sin which we deserved as law-breakers. Jesus' resurrection and ascent back to heaven opened the door for those who received salvation to begin a relationship with God.

Little Nets Into Deep Waters

Fishing nets were designed for one purpose only. To catch fish. Nets are no good if they stay on the boat. Nets serve no purpose if they are never used. I think maybe God sees us this way. We are all created for a purpose (by the way, the creator gets to define what our purpose is). Any other use besides the one we were created for does us no good. But when the creator places His hands upon us, casting us out into those scary, dark places with deep waters, it is then we can see the reality of our purpose. He knew there would be a catch waiting for us. I think I will be the net God has called me to be.

The Twelve Steps

As a community of people in recovery, we affirm that our higher power is Jesus Christ. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Just as God told the children of Israel He was going to give them a promised land, He has revealed to us that He desires to give us a "Promised Life." When Israel got to the promised land, God instructed them to go and in a possess it, fight for it and claim it. In recovery, the 12 Steps are the directions given to us on how to fight, possess and claim this promised life.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Titus

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THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD