I didn’t know if I would do a video or just write…

If I wrote, where would I write? On Facebook? Or on my website?

One thing is for certain, I can’t get up from this spot until I speak this…

For the grace of God has appeared,
bringing salvation for all people,
training us to renounce ungodliness
and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled,
upright,
and godly lives
in the present age,
waiting for our blessed hope,
the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior
Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us
to redeem us
from all lawlessness
and to purify for himself
a people for his own possession
who are zealous for good works.
Declare these things;
exhort and rebuke with all authority.
Let no one disregard you.
– Titus 2:11-15 ESV

My focus is only on verse 14 but I was compelled to share 11-15.

Verse 14 says about Jesus Christ that he.
“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 2:14 NIV)

Do you understand what this means?
Do you realize the cost? The pain? The long suffering? The endurance required?

We cry out “Jesus save me”.
Jesus says “I did on the cross.”

We cry out “Jesus deliver me”.
Jesus says “I did on the cross.”

We cry out “Jesus heal me.”

Jesus says “_____

You know the answer

He did on the cross.

He did the work.
He finished it.

Therefore the issue is not with Jesus
The issue is with us.

And this is what He says.

Luke 6:46

This world is sick.

The people fight to ward off sickness.
One food after another is being recalled because it will make one sick.
The earth is suffering in one area after another.

The news reports are grim and bleak.
People are scared and trembling.
Trying to stock up because of their fear that they feel is reasonable based upon the reports of the news and what is occurring in the land.

And yet here is what is missed…

All sickness is sin. I’m gonna repeat myself.
ALL sickness is sin.

Ephesians 1:7 tells us that for the forgiveness of sins we are redeemed through the blood.

That’s right the shed blood of Jesus redeems us.

The question then is Do you believe this?

That is where Galatians 2:20 comes in
Baptism is an outward show of faith you have.

Here is the thing.
When you believe
You act on what you believe.

Therefore when you believe, and you die to yourself and live in Christ for Christ.
Then there is a certain way you carry your Self.

At Ephesians 5:2 we are told to imitate God and walk in love. This is a self sacrificing love. This is a love that requires patient endurance with others and as I am learning, even patient endurance with oneself.

In this patience (long suffering) where we fight ourselves stretching ourselves to endure, Jesus is purifying us for Himself. Its a work. Yet the work that Jesus is doing in us requires a work from us too. It requires us to love. To forgive. To resist evil. To endure under hardship. To fight, not our neighbor but ourselves to control our emotions our spirit our tongues.

It’s not easy.
But it can be done
And it should be done
Because the biggest part of the debt was paid for us.

Jesus redeemed us. He saved us. Rescued us. Reclaimed us. He paid the debt to regain possession of us so that he could have us back over to the proper recipient – our Heavenly Father.

And HE did this just for you and me.

Then comes the end,

when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father

after destroying every rule

and every authority

and power.

For he must reign

until

he has put all his enemies

under his feet.

The last enemy to be destroyed

is death.

For “God has put all things

in subjection

under his feet.”

But when it says,

“all things are put in subjection,”

it is plain that he is excepted

who put all things in subjection under him.

When all things are subjected to him,

then the Son himself

will also be subjected

to him who put all things in subjection under him,

that God may be all in all.

– 1 Corinthians 15:24-28

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians15:24-28&version=ESV