PASTOR’S PONDERINGS JUNE 2026

Pastor’s Ponderings…

“For the grace of God has appeared, with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all the lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a special people, eager to do good works.”  Titus 2:11-14 HCSV

“But when the goodness and love for man appeared from God our Savior, He saved us – not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.  This Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace; we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.”  Titus 4:3-7 HCSV

Will you take special notice here of the emphasis that Paul places on the importance of both of these sections of his letter to Titus?  In Titus 2:15, Paul encourages Titus, “Say these things, and encourage and rebuke with all authority.  Let no one disregard you.”  In Titus 3:8, Paul writes, “This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works.  These are good and profitable for everyone.”

In so many ways we are at a difficult place in our world and in our lives today.  There are many struggles, many disappointments, and much heartache.  And to be sure, there are a lot of things that we can rejoice in…we have many, many things to be thankful for.  We have been given so many blessings that we must thank the Lord for.  And I think, at least in part, this is Paul’s perspective in these two passages of Scripture.  To me, they are two of the most powerful texts in the entire Bible.  GRACE HAS APPEARED!  And not just any grace, but God’s Grace!  The one and the only Grace that brings Salvation for all people – to anyone and everyone who would be willing to receive and believe in Jesus Christ.  The goodness and love of God for mankind that would be willing to save all who would be willing to come and receive God’s free gift of eternal life through Jesus

Christ our Lord.  And it’s not because of anything we had done, but it’s because of His great mercy.  That’s an anchor!  We, many times are in desperate need of an anchor.  We need this kind of good news and super solid truth to hold on to, because life so many times has a way of weighing us down.  Paul reminds us that this saying is trustworthy.  He instructs us to say these things and encourage one another in these things.  A lot of times the waves are pretty big!  The storms of life really have a way of raging all around us.  We need an anchor.  Portions of Scripture like these two are words that grip the solid rock as the storms rage.

As an old hymn declares: “In times like these we need a Savior.  In time like these we need an anchor; be very sure, be very sure your anchor holds and grips the solid rock.  This rock is Jesus, yes, He’s the One.  This rock is Jesus, the only One.  Be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock.”

We hold on to the Lord,

Pastor Steve