"Make the Teaching About God...Attractive"

READ: Titus 2:1-15

REFLECT
This is the positive way of saying exactly what Paul said in Titus 1:16. Our teaching (i.e., our claim) needs to show “integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned.” But this will not be true of our teaching if our lives (i.e., our actions) are inconsistent with, or in contradiction to, our teaching.

There must be a consistency between what we say and how we live. This is the challenge and the test of truly being a Christian. And it applies to all age groups, both genders and all socio-economic classes. Older men, older women, young men, young women and even slaves who are Christians are called by God to demonstrate their faith in God through how they live their day-to-day lives. When we live what we claim to be, our teaching is attractive. When we don’t, our teaching is mocked and rejected.

What is our motivation for all the effort it is going to take to live consistently with what we claim? It is “the grace of God” that has brought us our salvation. God’s grace is the only motivation that is deep enough and consistent enough to keep us going. If God’s grace doesn’t motivate us to say “No to ungodliness and worldly passions,” what will? Inspiring stories and examples certainly can boost our motivation when it is flagging, but fundamentally gratitude for God's grace in our personal lives is the only lasting motivation that I know.

PRAY
God in heaven, my Father, help me to stay focused on your grace in my life. Remind me of how I need your grace as desperately and as surely today as I did before I became a Christian. May I have as my deepest conviction the reality that I am nothing and can do nothing without your grace. I need your grace in terms of the ongoing forgiveness of my sins, but I also need your grace in terms of the spiritual gifts of strength, wisdom, ability, understanding, courage, etc. Everything I have and everything I do that can be considered good is a demonstration of your grace at work in my life. By myself I can do nothing. Today may my life fit my doctrine; may my attitude be consistent with my actions and my words consistent with my behaviour. And may I give all the glory to you.

OBEY
“In every way” does your life, right now, “make the teaching about God our Savior attractive”? If not, why not and in which aspects of life do you need to change and grow? Can you say that “the grace of God” is your number one motivation for saying “No” to sin? If not, what is?