Grace Instruction

What are the things in our life that teach us? We learn from going to school and from reading books. We participate in on the job training. Our parents teach us life skills. Do we look at God’s grace as a teacher? In what ways does the grace of God instruct us?

Grace is unmerited favor. We do not deserve God’s grace. Grace is a very good thing, and we receive it gladly. God’s grace saves us. It is an understatement to say that we cherish our salvation. As we enjoy the glories of salvation, we also need to embrace the instruction of grace in our lives.

Paul writes to Titus and says that God’s grace is a tutor. Grace brings salvation. And, God’s grace also is a tutor that instructs. Paul writes:

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:11-14)

Here are a few questions to help us consider how much we are allowing ourselves to be taught by God’s grace.

• Is God’s grace teaching me to deny ungodliness and worldly desires? How is this evidenced in my life? Do others see me as being holy and set apart or as an active participator in worldly endeavors?
• Is God’s grace teaching me to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in this present age? Am I living according to God’s wisdom and righteousness? Do others characterize my life choices as foolish? Am I seeking godly counsel regularly?
• Is God’s grace teaching me to look for and hope for the appearing of Christ? What do I look forward to happening next? Do I wake up in the morning looking to the east for Christ to come on the clouds?
• Is God’s grace teaching me that Jesus redeems me from every lawless deed? Do I see my sins crucified on the cross of Christ? Do I contemplate that His punishment should have been mine? Am I holding onto guilt of past sins and seeing them as being unforgivable and beyond redemption? What is my relationship to my sin?
• Is God’s grace teaching me Jesus is purifying me as His possession? Am I allowing Jesus to purify me, or am I sometimes resisting His work in my life? Do I grumble and complain about Jesus’ purifying work, or do I receive it with joy? Do I see myself as belonging to Christ? Am I serving Him as His servant or am I serving my agenda, lusts, desires, and priorities?
• Is God’s grace teaching me to be zealous for good deeds? What good deeds am I seeking to accomplish? How do I measure my zeal? Am I zealous for good deeds as I am passionate about helping myself?

Grace be with you!