Are You Available To Be Used By God?
Good Morning Friends,
In today’s scripture Paul is passing on what he had learned about grace and the courage and discipline necessary to build up the Christian Community. It is dovetailed with scripture that I think we all can relate too. And that is about being in trouble. The two topics are interrelated and speak to our heart and mind. The relationship between grace and trouble is really self-evident. It is part of the price of living. So how do you deal with trouble? You try to get out of it don’t you. You try to figure out what caused it and what resources might be available to help you get out of the situation. But as you come to an understanding of the relationship between behavior and trouble it becomes clear, at least in my experience, that without mercy, without the help of others, without the help of God… trouble does not go away. The solution to the trouble starts with our willingness to ask for help but ends with us hearing the cries of others and responding. We are to listen to what God’s word says and respond from our hearts. Are You Available To Be Used By God?
Scripture: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
Titus 2:11-14 (NRSV)
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’
Isaiah 6:8 (NRSV)
‘A mortal, born of woman, few of days and full of trouble,
Job 14:1 (NRSV)
A Prayer of David. Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all day long. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my cry of supplication. In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.
Psalm 86:1-8 (NRSV)
Message: The sorrow of life may be inevitable but if we ask for help in times of trouble, God will restore our joy and might even use us to help others. God offers grace when we have sorrow. We learn that God is always available to us and that He is a power greater than anything of the world and that when we become available to God we are used to extend the grace.
Grace brings us direction, discipline, instruction and hope. The choice we make to accept God’s grace is the most important decision we will ever make. Do not minimize its value because God makes it so freely available. Do not let your pride mask this amazing gift. Grace opens the door to enlightenment and the riches of the Kingdom of God. Don’t let anyone put you down, when Christ is in you. Paul describes grace in a unique and wonderful way to young Titus, explaining how grace opens doors and leads us into right actions… what is good. This undeserved sovereign favor- grace- teaches us about leadership…that human leadership that is secondary to that of God. God provides the personal leadership that brings us good in our lives. For our God is the leader who heals and saves, corrects and blesses calls and judges. We learn that perhaps the best leadership for us is a bit inconspicuous but also firm, filled with God’s strength reelected in our actions Spirit led. This is the leadership that Paul encourages and hopes to see developed in Titus and in us, a grace that teaches us to say “no” so Christ can be the “yes” in us that encourages others in the hope of the salvation of a Christ available for us because God is living in us.
Pray that we worship like Able…walk like Enoch… work like Noah and wait like Abraham. Pray that we do something with our faith that would glorify God. Pray that as surely as the sun rises and the seasons change that our faith will bring us to our Savior. Pray that His Salvation will bring us serenity. Pray this God given serenity will bring us strength. Pray this God given strength will bring security. Pray this God given security will bring us into service. Pray our service will shine forth in our lives as a victory of faith secure in the knowledge and sufficiency of God. Pray that we commit ourselves to the Lord. Pray that we have enough sense to choose the greater possibilities in lives that seek and follow His plan. Pray we commit ourselves to personal growth. Pray we commit ourselves to the body of believers. Pray we make a commitment putting our talents and abilities to work. Pray we be available to work with other believers in ministry. Pray that we live in the Holy Spirit that knows the will of God…that we live in the Holy Spirit that gives life to our mortal minds and bodies and bears witness that we are in God’s grace even when we face trouble.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 