Loved, Accepted, and Anointed

Titus 1:15-16

To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.

In these verses, Paul is referring to Jewish religious leaders, who held to a form of religion and claimed to know God but did not live with godly actions or works. Their lives provided evidence of a lack of faith and dependence upon works for a right standing with God. They lived by the commandments of men and rejected the truth of salvation through Christ. God could not use them for any good work because they did not belong to Him. 

To deny Christ is to deny God. To believe in Christ is to surrender to His lordship and to follow His example. By doing so, we are hidden in Him. God can use such a person for good works.  The one who does not surrender is trying to carry out his own agenda or seeking approval from men and can do no good works on his own. 

Set yourselves free from the expectations of others, and surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ. The approval of others means nothing. God’s approval means everything! In Christ, you are loved, accepted, and anointed. Follow His example. Surrender your own agenda to His, and watch where He will take you. You just might be surprised how and where He will use you to do the good works He has ordained for you! 

Have a blessed day!