STRESS THESE THINGS

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

IF YOU LIKE THIS POST PLEASE FOLLOW US, SHARE WITH OTHERS AND PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS AND GIVE US A LIKE.

Translate this site into your preferred language, look for our Google translator in our home page: diningwithjesus.net

Traduce este sitio en tu idioma preferido, busca nuestro traductor de Google en nuestra página de inicio ve a: diningwithjesus.net

In the passage that follows we have one of the most concise descriptions of the gospel of Jesus Christ that you will find anywhere in literature. Before I mess up its perfection, enjoy reading this masterpiece:

3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 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, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 

8 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. 9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

(Titus 3:3-11 NIV11)

My Need

In verse 3 we hear a summary of our condition without Christ. Before I was enveloped by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ I too was a disobedient fool. I bought the lies of the world and lived to fulfill my fleshly desires. 

Without the love of Christ in my life, I was angry. So angry. I did not seek God’s best for those around me in life, rather, I enjoyed their failure and pain because I thought that their loss would somehow be my gain. 

His Gift

In verses 4 we hear that God loved us more than our sin. He was well aware of our unredeemed state and the disaster that was in our hearts and minds and yet he showed us his true nature. The Lord showed someone like me undeserved kindness, unmerited favor, unending blessing. 

His Glory

In verse 5 we hear the truth of why. Why did the Lord show us this unbelievable grace? What have I done to deserve his attention, kindness, favor, and love? And the answer is… nothing. 

The Lord is motivated by his own nature and desires that which brings him the most glory. And in the infinite wisdom of the Lord, he has determined that dying in my place on the cross of Christ was not what I deserved, but what the Lord desired. 

The Lord is motivated by his own interests, not ours. It just so happens that his interests include the salvation of our broken and sinful selves. 

Included  

In verses 5-6 we hear that we have been included in his eternal nature. How so? We have received more than forgiveness and eternal life, we have been given the very person of the Holy Spirit that is at work in us and through us for our good and God’s glory. 

Our Shared Future

In verse 7 we hear the most amazing part of this unbelievable story of love and mercy. We… YOU and ME… we are now called as heirs of the King of Kings. We are now Sons and Daughters of the Lord Most High through the work and person of Jesus Christ. 

Listen to this… God WANTS to be with you for eternity. Why? Again, not because of how awesome you are, but because of his awesome love. 

Focus on these things

In verses 8-9 we hear the Apostle Paul sum up his letter to Titus by making it plain that the people of Jesus, his real church, need to focus on the truth of the gospel and let a lot of the other, temporary stuff go. 

We need to keep ringing the bell of our need and his gift. We need to keep focused on what lasts into eternity and leave the other junk for the world to fight over. 

We cannot allow our families, our churches, and our callings to be divided and destroyed by our desire to argue and prove to everyone around us that we are right and they are wrong. We need to return the discussion back to what matters most… the good news of Jesus. 

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, I will confess that it is difficult to stay focused on those things that matter most to you. Everyday there are so many falsehoods and lies that are told about you and about your people. Please help me know which ones are for me to address and which ones I need to hand over to you. Today Lord, I am going to focus on your good news and not get lost in all the other messes around me.  

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

Copyright © 2024 Ryan Laden – All Rights Reserved.