Why?

Titus 2:11-14

That was an excellent passage of Scripture indeed! If you have your Bible, please take a moment to read it, and then we’ll examine what our Lord has to say from an interesting perspective.

As we read God’s Holy Word, it’s important to remember that these are His words to us. The pages of the Bible contain the very words of our Great God and Creator, Jesus Christ. The Author of Life has chosen to speak to us, and we should be both humbled and delighted to listen. However, sometimes in our humble listening, we forget to answer back. We forget to respond with thanksgiving and praise and to sit down, meditate and ask questions.

Today, we’re going to ask the question “Why?” Why did God choose to love us so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for our sins? Why did Jesus have to die such a horrible death? Why did God allow sin and suffering in the world? These are not easy questions to answer, but they are important ones to ask.

Asking this question in the midst of reading a passage of scripture, I’ve found, can be an excellent way to better understand the glorious truths we are melting into.

Here we go!

For the grace of God has appeared, (why?) bringing salvation for all people, (why?) training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, (why?) and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, (why?) waiting for our blessed hope, (why?) the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (why?) who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and (why?) to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. 

Titus 2:11-14

We start with the Grace of God, and then follow the lines of truth straight through to a people who are zealous for good works. But why? Is it because they are trying to earn a ticket to heaven? No! It’s because the Grace of God leads to a people who are so overwhelmed and humbled by the undeserved Grace of God that they become followers of Christ who can’t help but desire to glorify Him by living self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.

Meditate on that. Think about the love of God that fills us and leads us to good works. This method of reading may not work with every passage of scripture, but it is sometimes a good way to think through these glorious truths and break up the monotony of mindlessly reading in our attempt to draw nearer to God through the devoted reading of scripture. Ask questions of scripture, and be challenged by the answers that the glorious Word of God provides.

Pause on the “why.” Meditate on the “why.” Be encouraged by the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the living and abiding word of God that never returns void.

In Him, with love,

mike…