Grace and Righteousness
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:11-13 HCSB
Paul’s letter to Titus, like his letter to Timothy, was written from a Roman prison. As a result, we see some similar instructions to these leaders about their duty in appointing leaders in the church and warnings about the environment in which they lived.
At the end of chapter one we read, “To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.” (Titus 1:15-16 HCSB)
Titus is then instructed what to teach older men, women, younger men and slaves. Each had their own challenges to face and responsible conduct to uphold. Our verses above get to the “why” of all these warnings and instructions.
While God’s grace that brings salvation is available to all, it calls us to responsible conduct, so that God’s grace is not in vain. God’s grace not only gives us favor from God, it provides and motivation and incentive to lead the type of lives that will bring honor to Christ.
God’s grace motivates us to keep our “eyes on the prize.” Our focus is not to be this world and any pleasures that would allure and distract, but our focus is to be on the coming of Christ. The fact that Christ’s return is the “blessed hope” for those who follow Christ is to be more than a “doctrinal” belief. It is to impact character of our lives. We are a “people of hope.”
Prayer for today… “Lord thank Your for Your grace that not only saves us but empowers us and motivates us in the life we are to live. Thank You that as we reflect Your character, we do so in anticipation of a future in Your presence, eagerly looking to Your return and our heavenly home.”