“But when the
goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not
because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His
mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:4-5 NRSV)
Following
Christ comes naturally to no one. As Christians, we are all on a journey under
the guidance of the Holy Spirit who is forming and molding us to look
increasingly like our Savior. That said, it can be easy for us to slip back
into behaviors that do not represent Christ, which is why we must be
intentional about the way we live…
Good works
are necessary for the Christian life -- not to achieve our salvation, but to
display it to the world. Our behaviors reveal what we truly believe, but we
often discount the influence of our environment upon the ways in which we live.
There are
many things contending for priority in our hearts -- culture, relationships,
career, money, and so on -- and when we devote ourselves to anything other than
Christ, we will live in ways that discredit the good news He desires for all to
embrace.
We all have
blind spots, which is why we need deep relationships within the body of Christ…
Take the courageous step of asking whether or not your behavior reflects what
you claim to believe. Doing so might require you to make some changes about the
way you live, but they will lead you to a deeper intimacy with Christ, which is
worth even the greatest of sacrifices.
-- Excerpted from the study guide to
“The Book of Titus” by Chip Ingram
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