Joan Brock
Titus 2:11-12
April 13, 2014
PALM SUNDAY
For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all mankind. 12 That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this word.
Titus was one of Paul’s trusted assistants commissioned to help lead a church on the island of Crete. Paul wrote this letter to instruct and encourage Titus in his pastoral duties. The overall theme is that in the midst of an evil world, proper Christian living is of utmost importance. Around us we see the hostility and corruption of the world, but we must show by our life what the grace of God can do. Such a life will have an impact, whereas mere words will do little or nothing. Paul encourages Titus to let his teaching to the men, women and slaves reflect integrity and to be so correct that it can’t be criticized. The people must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the news about our Savior attractive in every way.
In Philip Yancey’s book “What’s So Amazing About Grace” he states: The Christian life does not primarily center on ethics or rules but rather involves a new way of seeing. We must begin to see ourselves as sinners who cannot please God by any method of self-improvement or self-enlargement. Only then can we turn to God for outside help – for grace - and we learn that a holy God already loves us despite our defects. We must recognize our neighbors as sinners also, who are loved by God. A grace filled Christian is one who looks at the world through “grace–tinted lenses.”
With God’s grace we are to be those who are different from the times in which we live.
Father God, Help us to convey Your grace rather than to try and explain it. Amen.
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