SUNDAY August 10, 2025
Our Deceived, Disastrous Past
For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
Titus 3:3
After Paul’s reminder of how Christians should behave, he gave a contrasting narrative of how believers used to be without Christ and without any hope. Look back on your past before you came to Christ. What sin was destroying you? What was your life like in spiritual darkness? As a nonbeliever, you we acted foolishly and were deceived by the devil:
Psalm 14:1: The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.
2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT: Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.
As non-believers, we were slaves to our fleshly desires. We lived only to indulge our lusts and pleasures. Without God’s love ruling in our hearts, we lived in malice and envy––always wanting what someone else had. Unsatisfied with what we had, we coveted other people’s cars, homes, financial status, and even their spouses! Our sinful nature ruled our hearts completely, and, because of that, we were hateful. Instead of loving one another, we hated each other. The word hateful speaks of an unjustifiable, maliciousness toward others. We detest certain people.
As a Christian, 2 Corinthians 5:17 describes our complete transformation: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Through God’s Spirit, we are to hate no longer, but instead, love one another. Jesus said to His disciples: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34).
Only God can give us a selfless love for others, as the Holy Spirit changes us from within. This is one reason we must receive Christ, for apart from His Spirit we can never be freed from the chains of selfishness, jealousy, and indifference.
~Billy Graham~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
