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     When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. Titus 3:4-8

     Dear heavenly Father, this portion of your Word is encouragement on steroids—a cascading waterfall of your sovereign grace, endless mercies and measureless riches for us in Jesus. I want to marinate in this good news—getting so saturated with grace that I will more readily love people to your glory today.

How I praise you for the “appearing of your kindness and love” in my life—when I first came to know Jesus, and in numberless other seasons in my life. In fact, I’ll never live one day in the absence of your love and kindness. You didn’t save me because of any righteous things I did, but because of all the righteous things Jesus did on my behalf. My worse days weren’t beyond the reach of your grace, and my best days were in desperate need of your grace.

Father, you saved me through the “washing of rebirth and the renewal of the Holy Spirit”—a most glorious birthing experience from above, leading to an irreversible and irrepressible new life in Christ. You didn’t call me to turn over a new leaf; you gave me a new heart. You didn’t give me a second chance; you gave the Second Adam—Jesus, to be my Savior. I wasn’t just seriously misinformed about you; I was dead in my sins and trespasses, when you sent your Spirit to do his work in my life.

And you did so, so copiously and generously. You lavishly poured out your renewing Spirit on me—convicting me of the depth of my need and convincing me of the riches of your gospel. So that now, “having been justified by your grace”, I might live as a man filled with the hope of eternal life—an heir, with all your children, of our coming life in the new heaven and new earth.

Father, may this good news utterly transform the way I live this one day, today. May worship supplant my whining; may caring trump all my carping; may your Christ-exalting love expel my self-generated fears. May my repentances be quick, my listening be from the heart, and my good works be freely given in response to all your grace work on our behalf. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ triumphant and tender name.

 

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