Gracious Father, at one time we 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 to us, you saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of your mercy. You saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom you poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by your grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Oh, what a deliverance! Oh, what a miracle! We are alive. We are free indeed. We are children of the Most High God.
So then, as children of God, we ask for your power to flee sin and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Empower us to fight the good fight of the faith. Empower us to take hold of the eternal life to which we were called when we made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. You, Lord Jesus, give life to everything.
May we, empowered by Christ Jesus, keep your commands without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
In Christ,
Blessings!
Titus 3:3-7
3 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. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 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, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
I Timothy 6:11-16
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.