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Thursday, October 17, 2013

The Devotional – 158 – Titus 3:5


The Devotional – 158 – Titus 3:5

 

Mark 8:22-26 – and he looked up, and said, “I see men as trees walking” Has Jesus applied the water of His Living Word to your eyes? It may be that like most of us… you may need another application. Stay in His Word.

Comments and Challenges

The song writer, Mark Pendergrass writes; "The greatest thing in all my life is loving You" Taking a closer look at his song you might notice the progressive wisdom that Mr. Pendergrass applies. One: you cannot love God without knowing Him, and Two: you cannot serve God without loving Him. It is a simple song, but powerful in truth. A passage of interest here is Philippians 3:8-9.

“But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith”.

In seeking to establish righteousness in the sight of God, many of us fail by applying our own personal goodness to our relationship with the Savior, this is not endurance by knowing and serving, it is striving for approval in the selfish ambition of personal righteousness.

Zechariah records ten visions from God and in the fifth vision: Zechariah 3:1-7 he sees Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at Joshua’s right hand to resist the LORD. Joshua in his righteousness is seen as clothed in filthy rags and the angel says to those standing by: “Take away his filthy garments” and to Joshua the angel said, “See I have caused your iniquity to be removed from you and I will cloth you with a change of raiment”. Also the angel had placed a clean turban on Joshua’s head.

Does this vision show us the behind the scene elements of the things that God does on our behalf and do these not ring loud and clear in our soul? Righteousness does not come to anyone by the things we do, the righteousness of God comes by believing God who is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, notice Revelation 3:10-11.

"Because you have kept my Word, (literally; the word of my patience or My command of endurance) I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold I come quickly! Hold fast to what you have, that no one may take your crown”. Our turban is fresh and clean, permanently washed in the Blood of the Lamb, therefore do not take it off and throw in the towel.

A challenge for all of us since we are surrounded daily by much evil in this self-righteous world. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full at His wonderful face and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the Light of His glory and grace.

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