Here is the devotional and memory verse for the High School Small Group.

Titus 3:4-5 (NIV)
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

You are probably aware that in the New Testament there are a few Greek words for “Love”. In this passage, the original Greek word is “Philanthropia”. What is the first English word comes to your mind? It was probably Philanthropy! Philanthropy is a love of human kind. Philanthropists are known for giving very generous gifts to a humanitarian cause that touches their heart. There is no greater act of philanthropy than what Jesus Christ did for us. Jesus died for us because of his love for humans. Doesn’t it sound strange that an omnipotent God would care so much for sinners? What does that say about us? God treasures us and he considered us worth dying for. Paul talks about Christ dying for us in Romans 5:6-8,

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God just didn’t love us from afar; he came to Earth to demonstrate that love with his actions. God didn’t just love the “righteous”; he came to demonstrate his love to all of humankind, especially the sinners and ungodly. God did what we couldn’t do; he restored that relationship through his Son, Jesus Christ. Our Savior!