025204 Finding God in the Mystery of every day.
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Titus 2: 7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with [b]purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
This is impossible in ourselves. (can anyone dispute that?) Without the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and the crucifixion of our sin bent will here can be no fulfillment of this verse. Yet Paul seems wiling to state this and require it of those whom he has delegated to pastor those churches where he has worked. So what’s the deal?
Very simply as Jesus Himself reiterated to the twelve they were to each “take up his cross” (Luke 9:23) daily. That seems very plainly to say that sanctification is necessarily a repetitive and progressive act. While we Wesleyans have fussed and fumed over the word perfection, totally misunderstanding its meaning, we’ve missed the very idea that our consecration and His sanctifying grace is something to be renewed and practiced each and every day. Consider the taste of new wine. Then consider the “flavor” of your own faith journey.
Day by day and with each passing moment
Strength I find to meet my trials here
trusting in the Father’s wise bestowment
I’ve no cause for worry or for rear.
Words Karoline Wilhelmina Sandberg (Tr fr Swedish) Public Domain
Music Oskar Ahnfelt, Andrew Skoog
Larry M Lawrence- Mysteries 