Have you ever read a scripture numerous times and then one day you see something that had always been there, but you had missed it? This happened to me the other day. The scripture was Titus 2:11-12. (NIV) "For the grace of God that brings salvation had appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live upright and godly lives in this present age."
God’s grace is an amazing and awesome gift. It is freely given, we cannot earn it, we do not deserve it, yet it has appeared to all. It is God’s grace which saves us through faith. (Ephesians 2:8) Grace is truly the gift and the work of God, but we are expected to learn from God's grace.
The Spirit directed the apostle Paul to tell us that the grace of God teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passion and to live upright and godly lives in this present age.
It is my prayer for the Mandarin Church of Christ that we all will rejoice in and celebrate the amazing grace of God and that we allow His grace to teach us how to live a life worthy of the calling we have in Christ Jesus.
I love you all.
-Dan Nix