“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”
—Titus 3:5

So many people never feel secure in their walk with God. They think that somehow their salvation depends on their works, but Paul wrote in Titus 3 that God saved us not on the basis of our deeds but according to His mercy through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. Many times we think we realize this, but our actions tell a different story.

I have seen so many people start off right. They hear the gospel message and accept Jesus as their Savior. But once they start going to church, they are told they should do this and they shouldn’t do that. Soon what was begun in the mercy of God as they yielded to the Lord, they now try to perfect by good works.

Galatians 3:3 says that what was begun in the Spirit, we should not try to perfect with the flesh. We need to

keep trusting God, to keep clinging to Him and abiding in Jesus by depending on Him. In this way we’re being transformed from glory to glory.

Please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. It’s very important to know right from wrong and to choose what is right. But we need to be dependent on the Holy Spirit, step by step and day by day, and not try to accomplish good things for Him in our flesh.

So I want to encourage you today to trust in God. Trust in the One who saved you to complete what He began. Open your heart to Him, and share your deepest secrets with Him. Ask Him for help as often as you need to. He who began a good work in you will complete it because He did not save you on the basis of your righteous deeds but by His mercy and by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. Trust in the Lord, my friend, and you will be blessed because God continuously blesses everyone who looks to Him.

Father God, I know it is not by my works that I am saved or made righteous but according to Your mercy and the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. I trust You to complete the work You began in me. Help me not to seek to please and serve You in my own strength. Help me to always look to You to provide all I need and to empower me to impact Your kingdom.

Rabbi Kirt A. Schneider, Rivers of Revelation (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2020), Used by permission.