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Hear the devotional here: https://anchor.fm/eradio-valverde/episodes/Energetic-in-Goodness-e1sg6qq
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11 God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone! 12 We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, 13 and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. 14 He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness. (Titus 2:11-14 The Message Bible)
A most wonderful of Tuesdays you to dear Friend. I pray the pressures of this week don't distract you from receiving the greatest gift God has prepared for you! Let us continue to be people of prayer; praying for one another, for each other's needs, for the travel needs of loved ones either coming or going for these special days; prayers for those who do not have loved ones to come or go to see. Pray for those who live on the streets, and do what we can to help those who need our help. This truly is a time of giving. Pray for your needs.
Do you like to give, or receive gifts? Be honest... I believe that I enjoy both, but do understand how some love to give more than receive and some to receive more than give. And that may define their character, but today's passage is about what this season hold, the greatest gift humanity ever received; the gift of salvation as presented through Jesus Christ. For Titus, it's major news that the world should know: God is ready to give and forgive! The gift of salvation is available for all, and all should receive it. Titus knows that in Christ we can all receive new lives away from the previous way of living. No more "godless, indulgent lives," Instead, we should receive and live a "God-filled, God-honoring life." And the time to start is right now, and as glorious as this life is, we are only whetting our appetite for what is to come, which Titus knows is beyond compare, for it is glorious. The day Jesus returns, an Advent theme, it will be an awesome day. Jesus came to offer His life in exchange for ours, and has set us free "from a dark, rebellious life" and into a "good, pure life, making us a people He can be proud of, and energetic in goodness." Now, there's another Advent theme, being good, and not just good, but energetic at being good. No more lethargic or thinking about, doing or being good, but rather, a heartfelt, totally committed to doing and living that which is good. Imagine the impact if we ALL started now?
PRAYER: Loving God, infuse in me that energy and drive to be and do, good. The world needs me and I want to be the positive influence in someone's life. I thank You for this time of year and I pray that I am truly ready for Jesus to return and for me to do something awesome because of His first arrival. In His strong name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Get energetic about doing good becasue you are good!
Receive my blessings of peace and love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.