THINK TOGETHER
What are ways a Christian can “look” to Jesus?
READ TOGETHER
The biggest mistake that most Christians make is that they look at themselves way more than they look at Jesus. But if we want to become more like Jesus we have to look at Jesus more and more and ourselves less and less. Listen to what Paul tells Titus to focus on here:
Titus 2:11-14. 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Now I know there’s a lot here. But Paul is telling Pastor Titus that if people want to be godly, if they want to be like Jesus, then they have to look at Jesus. Let’s break it down.
“The grace of God has appeared.” – That’s Jesus! Jesus appeared on Earth and showed us the grace of God in his life.
“training us to renounce ungodliness” – Jesus’ grace is what teaches us to be godly and not ungodly. Knowing that we are loved by God is what makes us want to obey God.
“waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” – Paul is telling us to look forward to when Jesus will come back to Earth to rescue us. He will appear again for a second time. And all will be made good and right.
“who gave himself for us to redeem us” – Here Paul tells us to look backwards to what Jesus did on the cross when he died for our sins and freed us from our sin.
So in summary: LOOK AT JESUS! Look at his life of grace, look at his death for you, and look forward to his return for you.
And then, when we’ve learned to look at Jesus instead of ourselves we will “zealous for good works.” We will want to do good. Why? Because we know we aren’t being scored for our works and we aren’t being loved based on how good we are. We are just being loved by God. We are just living in his grace and kindness. And when we look at Jesus and live in his grace we will want to do good from a pure heart of love for him.
Because of Jesus we are God’s “pure possession.”
With Jesus we can live godly by his grace.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Here’s a great hymn to sing together.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus,
Help me keep looking at you instead of at myself.
Amen.
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