Don’t Fall for Cheap Grace
Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly.
I hate it when someone tells me something that I don’t want to hear … and yet, deep down, I know I need to hear it. I know I need to listen. I know I need to change my ways, but I don’t want to. How about you?
And one of the things I think we all need to hear is that some of the things we say and do really aren’t very nice.
Now, I can sit here and beat you over the head telling you to behave, to do better … until I’m blue in the face. But is that really going to make any difference in your life in a week, in a month, in a year from now? Highly unlikely!
But if God says it to you out of His love, out of His grace toward you, with the power that only He has to soften a heart that’s hardened around some of that bad behaviour … well, I know that it’ll make a powerful difference in your life.
Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly. NRSV
Perhaps that’s not quite what you wanted to hear today. As 20th century British author and evangelist Leonard Ravenhill once said, “If you want to be popular, preach happiness. If you want to be unpopular, preach holiness.” So please don’t shoot the messenger.
But by God’s grace, in the power of the Holy Spirit I say to you, renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age live a life that’s self-controlled, upright, and godly.
Because that’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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