Today's Devotion: Titus 3:4-7 (New International Version) - 4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he 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, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Paul is telling Titus that God favors us, not because of what we have done for Him, but because He loves us. That is God's grace, pure and simple.

Today's Comments: I always think about Martin Luther, when I read passages in which Paul talks about God's Grace. In my History of Theology class, we are given a vision of Luther, frustrated by his own thoughts, because he has no idea how to live a life that will be pleasing to God. While Luther wants to meet God's expectations, he cannot figure out just what to do. Then, he reads Paul's words, which jump out at him in a way that scripture has never jumped out before! God's grace has nothing to do with what kind of life you live! It has to do with what is in your heart! No matter how hard we try to please God, we will come up short. But all we have to do is let Jesus into our hearts and proclaim Him as our savior, and the Holy Spirit will do His work. Grace will come to you, and the good works will flow naturally from that gift. Simple? Yes.