SPIRITUAL
DIARY FOR 11-04-02
My
Worship Time Focus: God’s Mercy
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference: Titus 3:5
Message of the verse: “5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in
righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and
renewing by the Holy Spirit,” (NAS95)
“He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of His
mercy. He washed away our sins and gave
us a new life through the Holy Spirit. Greek: He saved us through the washing
of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” (NLT)
Paul mentions the second person of the godhead involved in the salvation
of man and that is the Holy Spirit.
Usually the godhead is mentioned in the order of God the Father, God the
Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God saves
the sinner not on the works that he does, for salvation is never given because
of works, but by grace faith and mercy.
Paul goes on to say in this verse that we are saved by His mercy by the
washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.
The word regeneration means the
new birth and as far as the washing it does not mean water baptism. There is the baptism of the Holy Spirit which
every believer goes through at the time of salvation and that is the Holy Spirit
placing us into the body of Christ. We
cannot forget mercy when it comes to salvation because without God’s mercy we
would never be saved. His mercy is
holding back the punishment that sinners deserve. The reason that He can do this is because
that punishment was given to Jesus Christ while upon the cross and God was
satisfied with His sacrifice for our sins.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I would like to focus in on the word mercy as
I think of this verse this morning. When
someone gives mercy to someone else he is holding back the punishment that the
offender deserves. I am reminded of the
story of a man who committed a crime in France when Napoleon was the
emperor. The man’s mother came to
Napoleon and begged for mercy but Napoleon said that he would be punished for
his crimes and he could not let him go.
The mother said that he certainly did not deserve mercy but no one
deserves mercy or it would not be mercy.
Napoleon gave mercy to the mother’s son.
I
did not deserve mercy from God but on the basis of what my Saviour did for me
God gave me mercy and I will ever be thankful for His mercy towards me an
undeserving sinner.
The Word of God has reminded me
of His great love and mercy in giving me salvation.
My
Steps of Faith Today: I want to believe that
the Lord will handle my fear problem today and give me the grace to do the
things he wants me to do today.
Memory verses for the week: Romans 11:33-35: “Oh, the debt of the riches of both the
wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable
are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
For who has known the mind of the
Lord? Or who has become His counselor Or
who has given to Him and it shall be repaid to him”
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