“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Titus 2:11-12 NIV
The Grace of God has appeared that offers salvation for all people. The same Grace teaches us when to say no to ungodliness, when to say yes to Godliness and thereby, how to fulfil the will of God. Our circumstances, the events of our lives, the trials and triumphs we experience are all aimed at cultivating spiritual growth and godly character. The one guiding this process is God our Father. He is using the events and circumstances of our lives to shape us into mature Christians. God knows how to shape us and is graciously doing so. We tend to equate His teaching with rigid rules and performance standards. God equates it with firm loving care for our souls. Whatever is going on in our lives is God’s gracious way of teaching us to be Holy. God calls us to say no to some things but only because He wants us to say yes to other things. We are to say yes to things that honour Him, that benefit others and glorify Him. God is not a Father who desires self-denial and self-torture for the sake of self-denial and self-torture. He wants us to say no to worldly, transitory pleasures and yes to eternal joy. God wants us to say no to self-love and yes to loving our neighbour in the context of His love. He is teaching us every day in what to say no to and what to say yes to. He’s teaching us to be like Him.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, thank You for teaching us how to say no and yes.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, thank You for teaching us every day in what to say no to and what to say yes to. For teaching us to be like You. AMEN
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)
John 17:20-23
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