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Tag: March 14

  • A Different Kind of Blessing

    1 Peter 3:14 “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
    A speaker at an evangelism conference said, “Only good things come to someone who shares Christ.” He then explained that the person hearing the gospel might get saved and that most definitely is a good thing – as a matter of fact, it is a great thing. Or they may not get saved but now they have the information on how to be saved and maybe they will get saved later because you sowed the seed of the gospel into their lives. That is a good thing. Then he said they may reject what you have to say and become angry with you and even attack you and even, God forbid, maybe kill you and if any of those happens it is a good thing for the one witnessing.

    Knowing we needed some context to the last point, he then explained that if one is persecuted for sharing their faith, they are BLESSED. He highlighted Matthew 5:10-11 which says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.”

    As Peter writes to persecuted believers in 1 Peter 3:14 he tells them what Jesus had told in the sermon on the Mount. He wanted believers to know that when they do good, and they are treated badly by the lost, it brings God’s blessings into their lives.
    Now, to be sure this is a different way to be blessed. I guess if we told the truth we like to get God’s blessings another way. However, we need to have this mindset that being persecuted, hated, maligned, mistreated, etc. brings God’s blessing so we are not afraid to step into the darkness to share with those who may love darkness more than the light (John 3:19-20 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.)

    If we fear what could happen to us, we are more prone to not share Christ. So we need to take heed to Peter’s words and not be afraid of their threats. We do not need to be intimidated or frightened by any person. Even if from a human standpoint the worst thing happens and we are killed we are then a martyr for Christ and get the martyr’s crown.

    Let us be faithful in sharing Christ even with those who hate us. Let us not be ashamed or afraid of sharing the gospel. Remember Saul – renamed Paul. He went from persecuting Christians to preaching Christ!

    Continue Strong being faithful,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Good Works Don’t Work To Save But The Saved Will Do Good Works!

    Titus 3:14 “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.”

    Without question, the Apostle Paul was passionate that a person is justified by faith and faith alone in the finished work of Jesus Christ and that he was passionate that a believer, after getting saved, will be fully engaged in doing good works.   Three times in the book of Titus alone he stressed the necessity of believers doing good works.  Notice these verses:

    Titus 2:14 says “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
    Titus 3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”
    And our verse: Titus 3:14  “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.”

    You might recall Paul’s teaching on good works followed after being saved from Ephesians 2:8-10.  He wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

    Are you learning to maintain good works?  Are you watching for opportunities to do good, to do good, especially to members of the household of faith?  (Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.)  Are you ready to act quickly as needs arise?  

    I read that Benjamin Franklin liked to ask two questions each day with one question in the morning and the other one in the evening.  The morning question was what good shall I do today? The one in the evening was what good have I done today?  I recommend his approach to each day as a way to apply Titus 3:14

    I can’t think of a much worse commentary of a believer’s life than to hear one is unfruitful!   Be good and do good!

    A March to Remember

    For March 14, let us remember Titus 2:14.  Titus 2:14 says, “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

    As we get closer to Easter (March 31) let us remember that He gave His life that we might have life.  What a Savior!

    On March 14 we encourage you to read Matthew 14 and Mark 14 to remember our Lord’s abilities to feed the 5000 and to walk on water and to read of the love of Mary and the Passover meal with His disciples, His prayer in the garden, His arrest and unjust religious trial along with unspeakable horrible treatment. 

    You can find the Bible reading plan on the Date the Word app.

    Continue Strong this March Remembering our Savior,
    And remember to DATE the Word