CWW Week 18 - Day 3 - A Work In Progress
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Scripture.
Titus 3:5 (NKJV) reads:
“not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
Devotional
This verse emphasises that salvation is not earned by our deeds but is a gift from God, given through His mercy and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.
When we understand this scripture we are well on the right track. We are not washed by the doing of good deeds. Good deeds come naturally as we slowly embrace the character of Jesus. This means that we are not required to perform but to live a life of natural service because that’s what Jesus showed us, and our desire is to be more like Him.
We don’t commit good deeds to get reward or gratification because that no longer belongs to us but to Jesus who performed those good works in us by the development of our character.
We are saved by Christ’s mercy and that alone should anyone boast.
According to the New Testament, particularly in Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV), we are saved by grace through faith, and not by our own works:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one should boast.”
This means that salvation is a gift from God and not something we can earn or deserve through our actions. Therefore, boasting about our own righteousness or merits is not appropriate, as it is God’s grace and mercy that bring about our salvation. It is pride that enlists boasting and pride cometh before the fall.
So lets look at the mechanisms by which todays verse is a guide to our lives in being a work in progress.
Firstly we are washed. When restoring anything, the tendency is to clean the item up for restoration prior to the commencement of works. A derelict house must first be stripped of all the rotten timbers and peeling paint to get back to the bare bones of the project.
This is where the decision is made as to whether the old house is worth restoring or not. God has never walked away from a restoration job when the owner agrees to the works being done.
Having cleaned and cleared the job site the renewing and regeneration work can now commence. Firstly we have to agree to let go of old cherished items that we have been hoarding. We have to step out of denial and admit that some of our old cherished sins, painful memories and hang ups need to be discarded. This is often painful but necessary if we are to be renewed. Why hang on to something that holds us back and prevents the works from proceeding?
Once this has been started we need the project manager to support us in these decisions. The Holy Spirit, enlisted in prayer, is the only way to take this on. He will show us that we must let go of those things that hold us back, and free us to move forward.
Addictions are many and can be almost impossible to let go of without the renewal of the Holy Spirit. In my life I would make the decision to let them go and then in a moment of weakness find my way to the dump where I started rummaging through the garbage of my life to find and restore them back to their familiar places. This always meant that I would have to go through the washing process all over again having spent time wallowing in the stench of my past.
Every time I restarted my project expecting God to discount me as a time waster, I was amazed at His grace and patience. God just keeps on keeping on. I am more mindful now than ever, that I can no longer afford to stall the project with my regression. I am more convinced than ever that Jesus is about to return and I do not want to be left wanting. We know that the world will soon be renewed and those faithful of God will be totally restored. I do not want to be found at the dump seeking may old garbage again when that time comes, do you?
Questions.
- What is it that you rummage for when you go back through the garbage of your life?
- When you find it, have you noticed that you place it back in a cherished position?
- As you do this, what new character attribute do you throw away to accomodate it?
Prayer.
Dear Lord, Papa God.
Papa I need you to support me in my regenerative process with the Holy Spirit. I know that I should discard the old treasures I have hoarded in my darkness and let them go. In my weakness I return time and time again and yet you still await my return to the project You have started in me. Strengthen my faith in you Papa God so the notion of going back to my garbage is no more. For this I pray in your precious name Jesus. Amen.
Have a great day with Jesus.
Graham Hood.
