READ: Titus 3:5-7
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
KEY THOUGHT:
I remember distinctly the day that I came to the realization of my mortality. Before that day, I lived blindly and free as a young man, enjoying all that life offered me and counting on my own ideas, schemes and resources to sustain me. I was a lot like what the apostle Paul described in … but then happened to me… everything changed when my eyes were opened to the weight of my sin that entangled me and enslaved me. I was not free at all. I was in over my head with a sin debt that I could not pay. My religion, my good works, and my morality could not free men. As you might imagine, I felt hopeless. I could not pay the cost.
But…I was introduced to Jesus. I was shown the mercy of God. I met the only one who could pay the debt that I could not pay with the only acceptable sacrifice, which He made on the cross. When that happened, my heart was opened and I trusted by faith in the work done by Jesus Christ to save me. At that very moment, I decided to stop running blindly and “free.” I decided to follow Jesus. I’ve never looked back.
The mercy of God took away the penalty of death that I deserved for my sin. It gave me forgiveness and hope. It saved me. He washed me clean of my sin and began a renewal process with His Holy Spirit to guide me along the way. The grace of God gave me something I didn’t deserve – a place in eternity with Him. I am no longer under the judgment of sin. I’ve been justified by the righteousness of God’s Son.
How about you? What’s your story? Have you experienced God’s mercy and grace? It’s available. It’s abundant. In all honesty, if you haven’t accepted God’s offering through His Son, then you’re living dangerously. You face death and eternal punishment for sin. But there is a way of escape mercifully provided by God. Would you accept His provision, just as I did, and become an heir to the hope of eternal life?
CONSIDER:
- What does the mercy of God offer to you?
- If you’ve experienced God’s mercy and grace, how did it change the way you live?
- How can you help others realize the mercy of God?
APPLICATION:
Trust in God’s mercy to save you!
