But When God…

Titus 3:4-5  But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

George Wilson was sentenced to hang after he was convicted of killing a guard while robbing a federal payroll from a train. Public sentiment against capital punishment led to an eventual pardon by President Andrew Jackson. Unbelievably though, Wilson refused to accept the pardon.

The case became so legally confusing that the Supreme Court had to rule on it. Chief Justice John Marshall delivered the verdict: “A pardon is a parchment whose only value must be determined by the receiver of the pardon. It has no value apart from that which the receiver gives it. George Wilson has refused to accept the pardon. We cannot conceive why he would do so, but he has. Therefore, George Wilson must die.”

Consequently, Wilson was hanged. We must realize that God’s grace becomes a pardon from sin only to those who receive it.

Today’s verse is preceded by a laundry list of things that we used to be: foolish, disobedient, misled, full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. Then verse 4 starts “But when God…”

God changes everything! So what is the difference between who we used to be and who we are? We received God’s gift of mercy and grace. Jesus already paid the price for our sins, but that forgiveness is lost on us unless we accept it.

Today’s Readings: Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3

For more posts, or to receive these daily via email, go to jerrygodsey.substack.com