Titus 2:11-13 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Many people mistake God’s grace for license, thinking it gives them permission to live however they like, but here Paul is saying the opposite. Properly understood, God’s grace teaches us to live holy lives in a way that nothing else could. Because of word order in Japanese grammar, the verb that the English renders simply as “teaches” is brought to the end of verse 13, where it is rendered “teaches and enlightens.” “Enlightenment” may be a Buddhist ideal, but the devil never comes up with anything original, he just twists what God has created, and this concept is one of those things. In any Japanese translation of the Bible, the word appears fairly frequently, particularly in Paul’s writings. It essentially refers to those “Aha!” moments when things fall into place and we grasp what we could not understand before. True enlightenment comes only by the grace of God, but the devil has many counterfeits. In my college days, “Turn on, tune in, drop out,” was the mantra of those who had been deceived by LSD. That sort of “enlightenment” certainly didn’t lead to holy living! Sadly, the generation that was addled by such drug-fueled enlightenment (mine, though I didn’t indulge) is now in control of the US government, and probably many others as well. That’s why it’s vital that true Christians, those who have had a revelation of God’s grace, allow that grace to govern how they live. The world certainly isn’t going to influence us toward holy living!

God has called and appointed me as a messenger of His grace, which is all the more reason for me to be living by it myself. My message must be that yes, we are all weak, sinful beings, but God in His grace supplies all the power and wisdom we need to be true to His Word as representatives of Christ, if we will only accept it. I have experienced myself the reality that if we focus on our sin, we are all the more likely to repeat it. However, if we focus on the love, grace, and forgiveness of God, then that sin loses its power over us, and we walk free. We tend to think habitual sin defines us, but that is a lie of the devil. I need to help people understand that anyone who is in Christ is indeed a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) We do trip at times, but that no longer defines us. It is only by grasping the grace of God that we can be set free from habitual sin. I have experienced that myself, and I am to communicate it to as many as possible, for their salvation and God’s glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. You’ve given me another sermon, when You had already shown me what I’m to preach on this coming Sunday! Show me when, where, and how to share the truth You pour out on me, so that Your Word through me may accomplish everything for which You send it, for the salvation and maturation of many, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!