INCARNATED. By Pastor Fernando

SCRIPTURE

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching cannot be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.
Titus 2:7-8

OBSERVATION
For the apostle Paul, consistency between what we teach and how we live was everything. The Gospel becomes incarnated in our own lives when we live according to its teachings. As Titus is instructed to be an example for all people by being consistent, Paul also points out that those who oppose the truth will have a hard time finding damaging accusations when the Gospel is incarnated in our lives. There are people that wait patiently for the first opportunity to accuse us if we are inconsistent. They are hypocrisy hunters, willing to use our own mistakes over and over again to disqualify us. We could spend time and energy fighting their attacks, or we could be wiser and stop giving them opportunities. For that reason, a Bible-based modest and simple lifestyle is the best option. We don't want to confuse people about our teaching by the way we live. It truly shows off when we incarnate the Gospel.

APPLICATION
Our spiritual journey is about making the Gospel a practical 24/7 lifestyle. When walking with the Spirit, we learn to think, act and speak like the Gospel teaches. We train hard to let the Gospel be incarnated in every single cell of our beings. The Holy Spirit never gives up working in our hearts, making sure that Jesus is incarnated. Knowing about Jesus is not enough. We must know Jesus intimately. Just like Mary experienced the miracle of incarnation, Jesus growing inside of her body, we also need to experience Jesus growing, being incarnated in our minds and hearts. This is what makes the Gospel the hope for the world. When we experience the incarnation of Jesus, our lives change from the inside out. I need to stop and reverse my tendency to work from the outside in. This is not a good way to live out the Gospel. But the more I let Jesus change me, the better example I become for other people, and my teaching becomes more powerful and effective.

PRAYER
Dear Jesus, please be incarnated in every area and let the miracle of a heart transformation be real in m own life. Let me be a good example for others, not because I have embraced great disciplines from the outside in, but because your presence takes over more and more of my heart from the inside out. Keep advancing your kingdom in my own heart. Help me to be consistent in my teaching and not to give opportunity for criticism to those who are waiting for my mistakes to appear. Let your grace and mercy follow me all my days. Without them I'm lost. Amen!