Daily Devotional – Saturday, September 19, 2026
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy,, He saved us.
Titus 3:5 (NKJV)
Paul’s message in today’s key text responds to a question we often ask ourselves: What makes a person right with God? Paul had previously stated that before knowing Christ, people can live foolishly, make wrong choices, follow their desires, and hurt others. That was the kind of life the readers of this epistle had once lived. Then God’s kindness and love appeared, and everything changed. God saved them, and that is something they could never do for themselves.
The Mercy You Could Never Earn
Paul explained why the issue mattered. The people Titus served could not point to a list of good deeds and say, “That is why God saved us.” Their salvation came from God’s mercy. Paul then described God washing them through regeneration and renewing them by the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus Christ, God poured out His Spirit on them, justified them by grace, and gave them hope of eternal life. Good works belong in the Christian life, yet grace comes first.
Today’s guiding scripture takes away the idea that we can earn salvation by doing good works First-century believers needed to understand where their salvation came from. God’s mercy came first. His grace made them right with Him and gave them new life. That truth should humble us. Nobody can boast about having earned God’s saving kindness. At the same time, nobody needs to believe a negative past puts God’s mercy beyond reach.
The One Thing Your Good Deeds Cannot Earn
Think about the times you have tried to make up for something by changing your behaviour. You may apologise, work harder, become more careful, or try to prove that you have changed. Those efforts matter, especially when someone has been hurt, yet they cannot buy forgiveness from God or earn salvation. Scripture points us somewhere deeper. God knows our failures and still offers mercy. Isn’t that a reason to stop hiding and turn toward Him?
Today, stop measuring your standing with God by the number of good things you have done. Let your positive choices come from gratitude for His mercy rather than an attempt to earn salvation. This attitude will influence how you respond when someone hurts you, how honestly you handle responsibility, and how quickly you admit a wrong. God’s mercy is a gift. Receive it with gratitude, then let it change the way you live.
Prayer
Merciful Father, thank You for Your mercy. I know I cannot earn what You have freely given me, so help me live today with gratitude for Your grace and extend that same mercy to others.
