Washed

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Today's reading titled Washed was written by Dave Brannan. My friend Bill described Gerard and acquaintance of his as being very far from God for a very long time. But one day, after Bill met with Gerard and explained to him how God's love has provided the way for us to be saved, Gerard became a believer in Jesus. Through tears, he repented of his sin and gave his life to Christ. Afterward, Bill asked Gerard how he felt. Wiping away tears, he answered simply, Washed.

What an amazing response! That's precisely the essence of salvation made possible through faith in Jesus' sacrifice for us on the cross. In 1 Corinthians chapter 6, after Paul gives examples of how disobedience against God leads to separation from Him, he says, That is what some of you were, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Washed, sanctified, justified, words that point to believers being forgiven and made right with Him. Titus chapter 3 verses 4 and 5 tells us more about this miraculous thing called salvation. God, our Savior, saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth. Our sin keeps us from God, but through faith in Jesus, sin's penalty is washed away. We become new creations, gain access to our Heavenly Father, and are made clean. He alone provides what we need to be washed. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Titus chapter 3 verses 3 through 7. 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. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 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, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs, having the hope of eternal life. Let's pray. Dear Jesus, We know we've sinned against You, and when we sin, it's like we build a wall between us. But Lord, You have torn down that wall and are inviting us to be reunited with You. May we fully receive Your forgiveness and realize the beautiful freedom we have as You live in and through us. Thank You, Jesus. It's in Your name we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening today. I'm Stephen, and this encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.