Today in God's Word—January 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
January 31, Titus 2
As a coach teaches players good technique, he sometimes tells them what to do to maximize their performance. But at other times, he tells them not to do certain things that would hinder their effectiveness. Training has both positive and negative aspects.
God’s grace not only saves our souls; it also transforms our lives. We are trained by grace in both negative and positive ways. Expressed negatively, grace trains us to say “no” to ungodliness, and “no” to being controlled by worldly passions. Expressed positively, the grace of God trains us to a live self-controlled, upright and godly life. Ungodliness means living as if God is irrelevant, but a godly life is focused on pleasing him. Grace teaches us to deny ungodly living and to pursue a godly life.
This dual education we receive by grace reminds us that Jesus is Lord as well as Savior of those for whom he died. We should not, and cannot go on in our old way of life. We were redeemed from lawlessness and purified to be his special people. When we’re conscious of what Jesus has done for us, we should be eager to work for him. Grace is no excuse for continuing in sin or being negligent in our service to God. On the contrary, grace properly understood and appreciated becomes a powerful motivating force for transforming our lives. When grace has trained us, we are not terrified by the knowledge that Jesus is coming again. Instead, the promise of his coming fills us with hope.
The teaching Paul wanted Titus to do shows it is God’s will that we change, and that
redeemed people need to be guided and reminded about the new life to which they’ve been called. Men and women, young and old are to be taught self-control. Neither old age nor youth will suffice as an excuse for living an undisciplined life. The Christian community is made up of people who teach one another by influence. Older people are supposed to teach the younger ones. As their spiritual teacher, Titus had to be a model of the things he taught. Even slaves could influence their masters, making the gospel attractive by their submissive, faithful lives.
So it is very appropriate to praise God for his grace and to rejoice in the salvation grace brings. It is equally appropriate to submit our tongues, minds and bodies to the training of grace. We do not honor our Savior by living in a way that contradicts and mocks his will. But when we are changed and motivated by grace, our influence is a tool in his hands to reach others for whom he died, and he is the one who gets the glory for our salvation and our transformation.
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament, Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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