Verse of the Day 6/14

Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,   English Standard Version (ESV)

Yesterday we considered how God is there for us when we go through the turbulent waters in life, He is there with us and for us and offers us a lifeline to save us, and this lifeline is in the person and power of Jesus.  His grace it what appears to us and empowers us if we will take a hold of it. 

The metaphor doesn't have to be a flood.  We may not feel overwhelmed but the need is still there.  We may go through life on our own and at times we will stumble and fall, sin can lead us astray down a wrong path.  Sometimes God does a work in us by bringing someone into our lives that serves as the lifeline, encouraging that there is a better way, to trust in Jesus and He'll see to the change of course in our lives. 

Today's verse came to mind as I listened to the worship songs (including Matthew West's "Only Grace") in our church service today which was about the grace of God calling us to get back up when we fall.  When I looked up Titus 2: 12 in my Bible I had the following notes in it from an unknown author.   "We would be wrong to think this change happens overnight. But we would be equally wrong to assume change never happens at all. It may come in fits and spurts – an "aha" here, a breakthrough there. But it comes. "The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared" (Titus 2:11). The floodgates are open, and the water is out. You just never know when grace will seep in."

The thought came to mind that just as we are sometimes "overwhelmed" but the flood of the events in our lives, often brought on by our own actions and desires, "God's floodgates" of grace have been opened to us, it is out all around us and that time of turning, that time of change, of having our feet set back on the Rock, is that time when that grace "seeps in".

You're starting over now
Under the sun
You're stepping forward now
A new life has begun
Your new life has begun

And if you should fall again
Get back up, get back up
Reach out and take my hand
Get back up, Get back up
Get back up again

There's only grace
There's only love
There's only mercy
And believe me it's enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
There's nothing left now
There's only grace

If you've been down, He has forgiven you, given you the grace and the strength to get back up, and to live the new life that has begun.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Titus 2:11The Message (MSG)

^11-14 God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone! We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.