It Really is ALL or NOTHING

S - Titus 3:1-7 (NIV): "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. 3 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. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

O - This passage affirms the Lord's unalterable equation: Grace and Mercy for ALL = Grace and Mercy for Me. As a true equation it can (and in the kingdom sense must be) read both ways. Any alteration to one side requires an alteration on the other side. Thus, Grace and Mercy for Me = Grace and Mercy for ALL. We are saved "not because of righteous things" we do but "because of his mercy." We have the hope of eternal life because we have been justified by GRACE. This is why we are to treat others, all others, with true humility and to slander no one. If I want to drop (remove, refuse) even one person from the ALL on one side of God's equation it requires the ME to be dropped from the other. Jesus confirms this at the end of his teaching prayer … if you won't forgive men when (not if) they sin against you then neither will your Father in Heaven forgive you. There really is no middle ground on this … ALL GRACE FOR ALL or NO HOPE FOR ME.

A - Because of grace (poured out generously because of God's kindness and love) I am to be engaged not only in doing that which is good but to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate and to show true humility toward ALL men. This is something I want to do! I want the life of Jesus (real, vibrant, holy, irrepressible) flowing into me and out of me. I want to have my heart tuned to heaven, available and vigilant to the Holy Spirit and to be a reason others would believe. Since I am such a recipient of the magnanimous heart and actions of the Lord he is calling me to join him in this strong family likeness and intentionally live this way too. What a great Christmas exchange … no white elephants here … rather a Merry Christmas to all and to all a great hope!

P - God who is Christmas,
Thank you for today and for all you are doing to redeem, reconcile, transform and bring lasting hope to our very terse and temporary planet. Lord, I want to treat all others the way you have so undeservedly and relentlessly loved and treated me. I want to live out loud your goodness and greatness and be one through whom others come to know and love you back. Thank you for your unflickering and relentless love. I do love you back.
Steve