Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Knowing and Doing Based on Faith
Charles Abraham
St. John's MTC, NY
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation
to all
The book of Titus is a pastoral letter from Paul to Titus. Titus was a Greek believer, who Paul placed in charge of ministering to the island of Crete. The book, while it is a short epistle, reads like a “how to” guide for young leaders in the church. This passage in particular instructs Titus to counsel the congregation to live a self-controlled and upright life.
The first point I would like to focus on in this passage is related to the gift of grace. Paul underscores the fact that the grace of God offers salvation to all. Time and time again, we are reminded that grace is for all of us. While we subconsciously try to take comfort in an exclusive experience, God has offered his gift of grace as salvation to all people.
Secondly, the grace of God should teach us to say “no” to the world. I look back at my own faith experience at times, and I see the fault in my thinking. Often I have excluded others from the message of grace, but have said “yes” to the ravages of sin. I’ve been willing to accept the relativism of the world – but not willing to look at all of God’s creation as being my brother or sister. Paul very clearly states in merely two sentences, that the grace of God is for all, but that it should teach us to say no the world. The message of grace is to help us live lives that are upright and godly in this “present age.”
Lastly, this passage provides us a beautiful summary of our hope. The “blessed hope” of every Christian is the second coming of Jesus Christ. He is our redeemer; he is our savior, and the one that we wait upon. The 2nd chapter of Titus ends with the following verse, “these, then are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority.”
We have a responsibility to preach the message of grace to all. We have an obligation to speak up against injustice and sin. We must encourage and rebuke with all authority granted by God, and we should be prepared for our blessed hope – the glory of Jesus Christ.
The book of Titus is a pastoral letter from Paul to Titus. Titus was a Greek believer, who Paul placed in charge of ministering to the island of Crete. The book, while it is a short epistle, reads like a “how to” guide for young leaders in the church. This passage in particular instructs Titus to counsel the congregation to live a self-controlled and upright life.
The first point I would like to focus on in this passage is related to the gift of grace. Paul underscores the fact that the grace of God offers salvation to all. Time and time again, we are reminded that grace is for all of us. While we subconsciously try to take comfort in an exclusive experience, God has offered his gift of grace as salvation to all people.
Secondly, the grace of God should teach us to say “no” to the world. I look back at my own faith experience at times, and I see the fault in my thinking. Often I have excluded others from the message of grace, but have said “yes” to the ravages of sin. I’ve been willing to accept the relativism of the world – but not willing to look at all of God’s creation as being my brother or sister. Paul very clearly states in merely two sentences, that the grace of God is for all, but that it should teach us to say no the world. The message of grace is to help us live lives that are upright and godly in this “present age.”
Lastly, this passage provides us a beautiful summary of our hope. The “blessed hope” of every Christian is the second coming of Jesus Christ. He is our redeemer; he is our savior, and the one that we wait upon. The 2nd chapter of Titus ends with the following verse, “these, then are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority.”
We have a responsibility to preach the message of grace to all. We have an obligation to speak up against injustice and sin. We must encourage and rebuke with all authority granted by God, and we should be prepared for our blessed hope – the glory of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER
Father, we thank You for
Your many blessings. We pray for those who are actively working for Your
Kingdom, and we ask that you strengthen us to boldly share Your message and to
be a fragrant offering to You. All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
Let us understand the gift of God’s grace that has been given to us, and to the world. Let our hearts be burdened with a desire to share this gift of grace, while we live lives that are holy and upright in preparation for the second coming of our Lord.
Let us understand the gift of God’s grace that has been given to us, and to the world. Let our hearts be burdened with a desire to share this gift of grace, while we live lives that are holy and upright in preparation for the second coming of our Lord.