Grow: First Steps with JesusSample

GRACE EMPOWERS ME

Our last discovery—in this week about grace—is how it empowers us to live godly, purposeful, and peaceful lives. Let’s look at the letter that Paul wrote to a young person by the name of Titus, who came to believe in Jesus through Paul’s testimony. 

Titus 2:11-12: The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.

We have already learned that the grace of God brings salvation to all people. We will now discover through Paul’s writings that grace goes much further in our lives. Grace trains us—like a personal trainer in a gym—to accomplish a standard of living that we could never have achieved on our own. 

Let’s look at the two dimensions of how grace trains us.

In the first instance the grace of God trains us to renounce ungodliness. It enables us to say no to people or our own selfish desires which may draw us back into a life of godless living. Grace does not just train us to say no to sinful living, it also secondly, enables us to say yes to something. Grace trains us to live self-controlled, godly lives. 

Practically, this is how it works: As we learn more about Jesus and His values, we grow the courage and the strength to live with Him, and also to live for Him. That is how we live out His purposes on earth.

Jesus, through grace, becomes our Personal Trainer and will empower us way beyond what we ever thought we could achieve. He will lead us in a path that is outstanding and superior to anything we ever dreamed we could become.

Daily Affirmation: "Grace empowers me to choose the right things in this life."

Action Step for Today: List some of the positive things about your potential that you trust God to accomplish through His grace.