Value

Titus 3:5
    "He saved us, not because of the righteous thins we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit."


Boring background info:
    -The term "value" originally comes from the Latin term "valere," which means "to be strong, be worth."
    -The dictionary definition of the noun "value" is the quality (either positive or negative) that renders
something desirable or valuable.
    -The dictionary definition of the adjective "valuable" is having worth or merit or value.

The first thing that I like about the passage from Titus is that I feel a little sarcasm coming from this feller :)

"...not because of all the righteous things we had done..."

This guy has a sarcastic sense of humor, in my opinion. Titus and I would have been great friends!

The second things I absolutely LOVE about this passage is that it talks about God saving us :) I mean, we've heard people talk about our Savior a billion and four times from a thousand other places in the Bible, but each time I read about how He saved us and how He loves us, I just get overjoyed! :)

Even though, Titus was maybe being a bit sarcastic about how righteous we are, he was absolutely correct in what he said, God did not save us because of anything good we've done. I mean come on...let's face it. We're not exactly the nicest people ever. BUT God saved us because of his mercy. His grace. 

He values us.

He WANTS us. 

"He washed away our sins..."

God DESIRES a personal RELATIONSHIP with each and every one of us.

Do you value yourself like God values you?

Sacrifice and Serve

From the passage of Luke 23:

"Two others, both criminals, were lead to be executed with [Jesus]. When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross...

Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.'

The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. 'He saved others,' they said, 'let him save himself if he is really God's Messiah, the Chosen One.' The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. They called out to him, 'If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!' And a sign was fastened to the cross above him with these words: This is the Kind of the Jews! ...

Jesus [said to the criminal], 'I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.'"

So, this week I have just come home from spending three fantastic days with a bunch of 5th and 6th graders at preteen camp. Even though there were a few moments every now and then where I just wanted hide and get away by myself, I absolutely loved every minute of it! And I learned something that put everything into perspective. I learned the true definition of sacrifice.

I am not my own.

Think about that for a second....

I think we understand that the things of this world do not belong to us because God is the creator of the world and everything in it. Well then, doesn't that mean that God created us? Therefore we are not our own. We are God's. 

We are not owed  anything!

I feel as though we as humans get into this mindset that because we have worked so hard at this, or been at this company for so long, etc. etc., that we feel like we are owed  the best that people have to offer. The best cars, the best houses, all the time in the world, and all the people we need and want to do our bidding. 

Guys, this is NOT what God wants from us as Christians! 

God has called us to serve. 

Did ya catch that??

We must sacrifice our time and wants, and serve. 

Matthew 20:25-26

    "You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you mush be your servant..."

Matthew 20:28

    "For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

Even while Jesus was nailed to the cross and dying, he was serving others by forgiving them and accepting their love.

Jesus knew his life was not his own. He sacrificed his reputation as Savior and Healer; he sacrificed his life so that we may be with him for all eternity. 

We must recognize that things of this world are not our own. We are not our own. 

When we live selfLESSly, then we will become like Christ.

When we live to serve others, the we will become like Christ. 

That should be our goal.