Tuesday, June 24, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: Titus 1

Have you ever felt like your energy has been depleted by life? I know there have been times when sin and shame have clouded my thinking and made me feel separated from God.

During these times, I tend to forget that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, I no longer have to be weighed down by shame and guilt. By God’s grace and power, we have been given new lives. When we place our faith in him, we are finally given freedom from the weight of sin. We can let go of our previous hurts and unhealthy ways of thinking and behaving. On the cross, Jesus bore the consequences for us. So when we put our faith in Jesus, we die to our old selves and become new creations in him.

Ephesians 2:4-5
⁴ But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, ⁵ that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

Our God is a personal God – he sacrificed his one and only son, not just for the entire world, but for each of his believers. Jesus gave up his own life to offer us the opportunity to find everlasting joy in him. Sin no longer separates us from God because we have been completely forgiven. We can now fully experience and become changed by the joy of the Good News, seeking to glorify God in everything we do.

No matter what life throws at us, we can look forward to spending eternity with Jesus in heaven. When we remember this, it gives us the strength to get through each day and opens up a new perspective on life.

So many of us go about our daily lives forgetting this tremendously important truth and believing we are spiritually dead inside. Let this be a reminder: You are not lost or hopeless. It’s time to put your mistakes, guilt, and shame behind you and step out of that grave. You are a beloved child of God, and his Spirit lives within you.

Questions:
How can we live like we are a new creation?

How has becoming a new creation changed your thoughts and behavior?

Next Steps:
Join a Group for the summer semester to connect with other believers who will encourage you to live like a new creation.

This week, write down a list of old ways of thinking and behaving that you can let go of now that you are a new creation in Christ.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thanks for making me a new creation through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Remind me this week that I am no longer weighed down by my sin and shame, and that I can experience freedom and forgiveness from this point forward. Encourage me to live like a new creation, speaking and acting in a way that glorifies you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Series Theme Verse:

2 Corinthians 1:20
For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

This post was written by Isabelle Billnitzer, a Perrysburg attendee and regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.