Our response is EVERYTHING.

 

And so the question of the day is:  What are you going to do about this?

 

You see….our God is a God of response.  He is a God who does not just sit there and let things deteriorate….

He is a God of action.

 

We might not always think so….but think about it.

 

When God saw our sin and brokenness and our propensity to be drawn to evil…He responded.  And He responded BIG.

 

My dad always told me:  “Never send a boy to do a man’s job.”

 

I think that’s the gospel.

 

God saw us heading for destruction…He saw us “choosing the wrong tree”—-choosing the very thing that might ruin us…He saw us being held captive by our very enemy.

 

He saw us CRYING OUT FOR FREEDOM, and yet, seeking the very thing that takes our freedom away….

 

No one plans to totally fail or flop—-to totally ruin our very destiny—-but we do.  And we end up in a place where we simply can not escape.

 

So God sent Jesus…and Jesus responded like a lion….

  • He tore up the temple and called out men in order to free His people.
  • He took His disciples to the “gates of hell” and told them that the enemy would NEVER, and I mean NEVER, win.
  • He put His hands on people who were contaminated…running TO the sickness—not away from it.
  • He faced death and endured it….defeating it in the flesh and in the spirit.
  • He saw YOU from on high and decided to make you an offer for a chance (should you take it) TO SET YOU FREE.

 

He did it all.

 

I used to say that if there were 1000 steps between us and God—He would take 999 of them in order to meet us.  He would walk the hill and do all the work….but we must RESPOND.  And our RESPONSE IS EVERYTHING.  Because our heart must somehow, someway, find a way to meet with Him and be redeemed.

 

What is your response to His call?

 

I think Titus understood this….and the more I have read this….the more I realize that this verse is a lot deeper than what I first gave it credit for:

 

Titus 2:11-12  11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age

 

Grace is almost impossible to understand or fathom.  It isn’t just forgiveness…It isn’t just a pardon…It isn’t just choosing not to collect what is due.

 

It is PROMOTION into the very thing that we have failed at…

 

Titus is telling us something…

  • Looking at GRACE as a permission slip to continue in sin is not seeing what it truly is….
  • Looking at GRACE and continuing to walk in our shame is not seeing what it truly is….
  • Looking at GRACE and being unchanged by the message that Jesus delivers to us EVERY DAY is not seeing what it truly is….

 

His offer to you demands a RESPONSE.

A heart of gratitude.

A desire to worship.

A filling of hope.

An overwhelming stream of joy.

A life that will never be the same.

 

Do not allow the enemy to dictate what life is supposed to look like…..

 

Allow Jesus to stir up a response in you the likes of which the world has never seen…..

 

In The Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

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Coach J