Twin City church of Christ Blog
“Dec 12, 2024 - What Grace Teaches Us”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsWhat Grace Teaches Us
Reading: Titus 2:11-15
Here Paul sums up the instruction he has given for various age groups by explaining why we now live differently than before we knew God. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age”(Titus 2:11-12). Our change has not originated with us; it came when God’s grace appeared in the person of Jesus. But that grace not only blesses us; it teaches us. Grace teaches us “to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions.” Some things are definitively wrong and must be eliminated. It teaches us “to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.” Our new life will be one where we show the discipline and devotion we failed to show previously. Grace teaches us that we must respond to God’s blessings with a commitment to live for him.
Grace also teaches us to anticipate the return of the one who has done so much for us: “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works”(Titus 2:13-14). Our lives are now characterized by waiting, looking forward to the return of the savior who has loved us so richly. Knowing that he “gave himself for us,” we give our lives for him, disciplining ourselves and replacing our passion for evil with a heart “zealous for good works.”
Grace is not simply about a transaction in which God gives and we receive. It is about God’s kindness revolutionizing our lives and showing us a better way to live. We know what it cost to buy us out of our sins, so we refuse to live in sin any longer. We know how much God loves us, so we trust the goodness of his instructions for us. We know Jesus is coming back, so we eagerly await him. God has lavished his love on us and we respond with our own love and obedience.
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One Thing to Think About: How do we normally respond when someone gives us a gift?
One Thing to Pray For: Zeal for good works
