For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, Titus 2:11-12 NABRE
Paul is writing to his disciple Titus who is on the Isle of Crete trying to organize the church. It is a difficult place to create church because it is a port isle, with many transients and people who are caught up in the lawlessness of the culture. Paul exhorts Titus to find people of influence who can help convince others to come to the Lord. In the quoted verse Paul is explaining that grace of God has appeared. Grace is the presence of God who will strengthen and assist anyone who wants to reject godless ways. Paul says this grace saves all, not meaning it is saving those who don’t accept it, but whoever accepts grace, Jew, Gentile or Greek has the opportunity to be saved by grace. With grace the sins of the culture can be rejected, the desires of the world (in other places Paul uses desires of the flesh) can be rejected as well. Paul then indicates with grace we can live temperately; with self-control, a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22), we can live justly; in right relationship with our neighbor and devoutly; devoted to God, enjoying a pious relationship with God. We cannot live a temperate, just, devout life without God’s help. God helps through grace. It is God in us helping us to desire and live for God.
God loves us so much that He gives us the means to be loving in return. God puts the desire in us for God if we are open to Him. Our openness is in accepting God’s grace, and using grace to become closer and closer to God.
Do you reject godless ways and worldly desires? Are you open to receiving God’s grace to strengthen your relationship with God?
God puts the desire in us for God if we are open to Him. Our openness is in accepting God's grace, and using grace to become closer and closer to God. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity#dailybibleverse @youversion#BeAnEncourager #grace #help #Paul#everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist#jesussaves #godisgood#dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture#bibleverse #verseoftheday #pray#prayer #goodnews #loveeachother#godisgreat #thisVineyard#youversion #everythingalways