DATE WRITTEN: Thursday, 2020-09-17
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Titus 3:8
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁸ This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.

OBSERVATION: Paul had just used the first 7 verses of this Scripture asking Titus to remind the church from whence they came, and to never forget how much God did for them. This applies to us today, and I believe that grateful men and women will always want to give back when they are appreciating the blessings they are endowed with from above. Could it be that our good works is a measurement of how grateful we are for what God has done in our lives?

APPLICATION: Paul addressed this same message in Ephesians 2:8-10, and so did James over in James 2, so I believe that this is worth being reminded about again today. Let’s ponder for a moment how appreciative we are of our parents for their sacrifice and love during the first part of our lives. Many of us will now sacrifice our last dollar in order to care for our parents who may be running into hard times near the end of their lives. Another example of this might be our spouse, for many good spouses will sacrifice in order to please their partner, whether through food, or perhaps in their time devoted to caring for us. I wonder if it would impact us more if Paul had said this in a slightly different way? What if he said ‘apparently these people are not very grateful to God for all that He did for them at Calvary. Look, outsiders are coming in to help their elderly, widowed and sick. They refuse to even help each other through rough times’. I believe that way too often we take on the role of God, and decide not to help a Brother because of all the sin that we see in their lives, or the laziness, or the way they treat their spouse. What if God looked at us in such a critical way, do you suppose that He would have ever sacrificed His only Son for our salvation? Could He possibly have loved us through the sin that He saw in us? He sure did! Friends, we need to stop analyzing like we feel God does. We need to be busy about the work of the Lord. I believe that if God saw us really busy helping others and doing good wherever we go, then He would know that there is something, or someone, special inside of us that makes us different to the rest of the world. If we were to set out each day determined to help others and allow God to work mightily through us, then no one will be able to stop us. In fact, wouldn’t it be awesome to have folk question if we are children of the King, because they noticed us helping others who can’t help themselves? I sincerely believe that others will want to know our King, when they see evidence that He made such a difference in our lives. When friends see no difference in us, compared to what they and their worldly friends say and do, what change would they need to make? Would they truly have a reason to believe that there is a God, if they don’t see Him at work in His own children? It is so important for us to be obedient children, dear ones. Let’s begin afresh today by following the Scripture and devote ourselves to doing good. Jesus did so, and so should we, as His devoted children.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for looking at sinners such as my readers and I, hearing our cry for forgiveness and acceptance, and yet You looked on us through loving, forgiving eyes, saw our need, forgave our sins, and considered us as saints in Your wonderful eyes. So unworthy, yet You loved us anyway. Thank You Jesus! In appreciation for Your precious Word, please humble us today to seek out ways to serve You through helping others that we will come into contact with. You did it while here on earth, so please give us boldness, stamina and determination to follow Your example and be of godly, loving service, as evidence of the awesome God that lives inside of us. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!