From:
Date: December 9, 2019
Subject: It's December 9; Good Morning Union


“For the grace of God, that brings salvation, has appeared to all men…”     Titus 2: 11

Titus was a pastor on the island of Crete and an apparent understudy of the apostle Paul who wrote this letter that I started reading this morning. The believers on Crete were fragmenting because of legalism and half-converted Jews and it looks like to me that Paul wrote to try and  reestablish some unity and structure to the church. His message seemed to be summarized at the very beginning where he reminded them that their “knowledge of the truth” would lead to godliness, and their “faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life” was secure as promised. When I get confused or distracted in my journey with Jesus I need to remember that His truth leads to godliness and faith and hope assure me of the reality of the promised eternal life!

And THEN I got to my verse for today! “For the grace of God, that brings salvation, has appeared to everyone.” Once I get it straight that it is GOD’S GRACE that brings salvation, then that assurance does three things according to the text:

 

  1. “It teaches me to say NO to
  1. Ungodliness, and
  2. Worldly passions”
  1. It teaches me “to live:
  1. Self-controlled
  2. Upright
  3. Godly”
  1. And it teaches me to live this way “in this present life while I wait for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

And the reason to do this is because “Jesus gave Himself:

  1. To redeem us from ALL wickedness, and
  2. To purify for Himself a people that are His very own.”

And they will be recognized by and identified as, “eager to do what is good.”

So now, because of "the grace of God that brings salvation," I know what not to do, what to do, and why to do it! And I’ll know if it’s working as I become more and more “eager to do what is good!” Any questions?!
 

Have a great day understanding more of the journey with Jesus,

Pastor Rich

 

Quote for the day:      “Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.”