Grace!

Grace!

Titus 2:11-12 KJV

[11] For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Grace is defined as "undeserved favor". It is not something to be earned or deserved; it is something that is freely given. It is this simple definition that opens the door to an amazing dimension of information about who God is, what He has done for us, and what He desires from us in return. If a man could earn grace, not too many people could afford it. The rich of this world would strive to keep it to themselves and block other people from getting it. Those who are influential and connected will do all they can to appropriate it to themselves alone. Thank God for the level playing field that God gives to us all. Thank God He has not asked me to give the impossible in order to access His provision. Let it be clear that though there is nothing I could have done or given to merit the grace of God, I can be sure that once I have received it, it places a demand on me to live right. 

That is the message in the first verse above. It is a gift that has been given to ALL men, with the emphasis on all. It does not matter how bad my past is; God's grace is enough to give me a fresh start. It does not matter what the pain of the present is; God's grace is able to address the present and secure hope for the future. Let no man keep you away from the free gift of salvation available to all by claiming that your past is too dirty to be forgiven. Grace has been given freely to all men, so they all can come to the saving knowledge of Jesus as Lord and Saviour. You cannot take Him as Lord and reject Him as your Saviour. Both are part of a single package that comes with Jesus. That is what makes salvation complete. The bible says that a man is saved if he can confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in His heart that God raised Him from the dead. You cannot take one without the other.

Now, that grace will demand something from me. It was freely delivered to me, but it will still cost me something, which is why the messge of grace can be strange. I do nothing to deserve it, yet I will have to live right in order to sustain that which God has given. I cannot work FOR it, but there is a work expected from me when I am IN it. Whatever it was that held me back in the past must be let go, if I am to take hold of that which God wants me to have. That is why there is both a NO and a YES in this walk of grace. I cannot sit on the fence because there is none. I am not able to play both sides at the same time. I note that indecision is itself a choice. We say NO to all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and YES to living soberly, righteously and Godly in this present world. If I know the value of what I have received, it is not hard to say YES to Jesus. Would you also take the right decision to say YES to Jesus? God's time of favour is here.