Part 1: A Word from the Apostle

 

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…”

—Titus 2:11-12

Everyone likes to receive letters, or emails, or Facebook posts, or Tweets, or Instagram posts, or whatever means one receives communications from their loved ones today. Certainly, the young minister, Titus, always looked forward to communications, just like we do today.

Titus particularly perked up when he received communication from his mentor, the Apostle Paul. In fact, the words that Paul wrote to Titus—along with the two letters we still have of Paul’s correspondence with Timothy—remain cherished today by God’s choice servants. We often refer to these three books in the New Testament as the “Pastoral Epistles.” Paul is teaching Titus and Timothy how to be the best possible pastors they can be.

Today’s blog post consists of the first part of a crucially important paragraph that Paul wrote to Titus. And, these are words that we should revere and welcome in our own lives this day. The passage is found in Titus 2:11-12:

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…

Paul distills in these few words the very essence of the gospel—the good news—of the life transforming power of the living Lord Jesus Christ. This is why we call ourselves “Christ’s-ones” or “Christians.” We do so because of this change that God has brought into our lives through His precious Son. Furthermore, God has given us His Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts and minds and lead us along the pathway that God has laid out before us.

As we begin a new day, let’s celebrate the fact that God has given us the ability to bend our selfish human wills to His divine and perfect will. We can truly say “No!” to all ungodliness and choose to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

 

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