Grace That Says “No”
I was actually up earlier this morning than usual. That provided me the opportunity to get some work done outside and to take care of organizational work for our community swim team.
I was able to mow the law again, before connecting with Pastor Steve for lunch and then doing some final prep for the retreat I will be attending this weekend.
I mentioned my new recumbent bike, that I am looking forward to using. I found that I don’t go as fast as I use to on a bike. I guess that’s what happens when you only have one leg with the strength that is needed.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all people. That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world, as we wait for the blessed Day we hope for, when the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ will appear.” Titus 2:11-13
The forgiveness of sin and a relationship with a Holy God is possible because of the grace the Lord provides for all people who place their trust in Him. Paul in his letter to Titus amplifies on this concept when he says, “But when the kindness [grace] and love of God our Savior was revealed, he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit…” (Titus 3:4,5)
God’s grace frees us from the law and the idea that we must do anything on our own effort to have forgiveness and relationship with Christ. In Paul’s day, some thought this meant grace meant, “yes” to anything I wanted to do and any way I wanted to live. Paul wrote to the Romans and addressed the issue of “grace as permission to sin.” “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!” (Romans 6:1)
Paul teaches that understanding God’s grace is a motivation for right living. The NIV translation puts it emphatically in these words, “…[grace] teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” (Titus 2:12)
When we have the hope of Heaven, God’s grace teaches us to plan and prepare now for that time. It teaches us how to begin living now as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. So the challenge is “what kind of students will we be.” Just like in academic discipline sometimes we do better on some test than on others. But the goal is to learn and keep our focus and motivation on the prize regardless of accomplishments or set backs.
I’m thankful that God’s grace and the work of the Holy Spirit is faithful to help us and to move us closer to living a life that pleases the Lord. Remember the challenge and promise of Paul’s words, “…be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you…” (Romans 12:2 LB)