Slander no one … be peaceable and considerate, and always gentle toward everyone. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us… (Titus 3:2-5)
Lord Jesus, this passage is so timely and convicting, but mostly, it’s gratitude-fueling. The last three words, “he saved us,” are now the center of our universe, the core of our freedom, our fuel for change and reason to hope.
Jesus, thank you for being the kindness-bomb the Father dropped into our lives—the love-explosion that leveled us, saved us, and is now remaking us.
Though we see it more easily in others, Paul says “foolishness, pleasure-seeking, malice, envy, and hate” marked us. We’re naive to disagree. Again we say, thank you for saving us, thank you.
And now we’re called to a slander-free, peace-making, considerate, always-gentle way of relating to everyone. One Day, we will see you and be made like you, and we’ll do all this effortlessly (1 John 3:1-3). Hasten that Day.
But today, through next Tuesday, and for the foreseeable future, live your life in us and though us. Grant us quick repentances, real humility, and super-size our kindness and gentleness. Again, thank you for saving us, Jesus. So very Amen we pray, in your great and grace-full name.
