Set Free for Good Deeds

So that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds. (Titus 3:8)

Read: Tit. 3:1-8; Matt. 5:16; I Tim. 6:18; I Pet. 2:12

What Is God Saying?

Titus was the Bishop of Crete. This was not an easy task, but he was a seasoned veteran. At Paul's request, he had dealt with the horrendous problems in Corinth. Paul calls Titus, ‘My true son in our common faith.’ He had proven his faithfulness to true doctrine and ability to speak the truth in love. Now he has another great responsibility, ‘to straighten out what was left unfinished in Crete and appoint elders in every town.’ In this letter, Paul stresses the importance of good works. False teachers claim to know God but by their actions they deny Him. Good deeds are not optional for the Christian. They are as inevitable as fruit growing on a vine. This is practical Christianity based on and flowing from salvation (Titus 3:4-8). That's the name of the game.

How Does This Apply To Us?

Are we saved by good works? Never. Saved for good works? Always. Prayer should open with gratitude to God because of our freedom from sin by His grace. It should then go on with a steadfast desire to do good for others because of our freedom from sin and self. Salvation gives us the liberty to help others. Salvation gives us the desire to do good and for the best reasons—love and gratitude.

"I would not work my soul to save, For that my Lord has done-But I would work like any slave For the love of God's dear Son." St. Augustine

In prayer let us thank God we are free. Then let us lay out our plans for doing good. Let us ask God, who has set us free from sin, to set us free for service. Let us thank God that by His grace He has made us good enough to go to Heaven. Now let us ask God to help us do enough good on the way to Heaven.

Pray With Me

Believing in You, O God brings freedom from care and anxiety. Believing in You, O God is release from bondage and fear. ‘If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.’ I don't need to do a certain amount of work for a certain amount of salvation. I am free from that! Faith in Your redeeming power and mercy can swing wide the gates of Heaven! I am glad to know that I don't have to climb to the heights or crawl into Your favor as a subdued prisoner. I don't have to regain Paradise. It is done. It was finished, completely and forever, at Calvary.

Yet I remember Your Word commands those who believe in God to ‘be careful to apply themselves to good deeds.’ To be free indeed is not to be free from deeds. Good deeds can never be the root of salvation, but they must be the fruit of salvation. I am released from the carefulness of working because I am saved. Let Your mercy inspire me both to rest on Your promises and to labor in Your vineyard. I am carefree because You have been good to me. Now help me to be carefree in goodness that extends to others. Forgive me, Lord, that I have been so often willing merely to consider good deeds and so often unwilling to apply myself to good deeds. Help me to apply myself with carefulness to good deeds, not for my credit and not to my praise, but in thankfulness to Him who has rid my heart forever of every care.

In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

Moving On In The Life of Prayer

The best way to move on in a life of prayer is to move out into a life of service. The more we show the love of God to others, the more free we are to claim the blessings of His love for ourselves. Prayer is a channel of blessings and not a reservoir. We take in all we want. We give out all we can. The Source won't run dry. ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35)

• Pray boldly.

• Serve faithfully.

• Live joyously.