The Magnificent Grace of God DevotionalSample

The Magnificent Grace of God Changes Us

On the other side of the pains of growth is the promise of change. We see it in our teenage children. We feel it in our bodies as we get older. We know it as part of the ebb and flow of life itself. And, surely, we will experience change growing in light of God’s grace.

“Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then enables us to yield to its transforming power.” (Max Lucado)

It is that transforming power that brings the believer to a greater level of maturity, a deeper level of wisdom, and a proven level of testimony. See, God’s grace is not just for your entry into heaven. It’s also the power you need to change here on earth.

But how, exactly, should grace transform us?

Well, let us answer this question from Titus 2.

Here, Titus is urged to remind believers that even though they live in a sinful culture, they should not live in a sinful manner – and neither should we. According to Titus 2:12-13, the transforming power of grace will teach us to:

1. Deny ungodliness and worldly desires. As believers, we cannot continue to feed our flesh and then wonder why our spirit-man is not winning. Saying “no” to a life of sin is not only evidence of growing in grace, but it is essential to experience the free gift of salvation.

2. Live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age. Titus instructs how we should live in relation to our personal lives (self-controlled), to others (upright), and to God (godly). This should compel us to live righteously, calling sin a sin, choosing right from wrong, and taking God seriously. Remember, you are in this world, but you’re not supposed to be of it. (John 17:14-16)

3. Look for the blessed hope and appearing of Jesus. As believers, our response to the trials of this life should always be with eternity in mind. So, when the assignment gets too hard or the suffering seems too long or the loneliness is too deafening, grace implores us to look up and to live with the active expectation of Jesus’ return. Not only will it create a reminder of why you are doing what you are doing, but it will also help you to do it with joy.

Friends, the more we heed these instructions, the more grace will change us, manifesting contentment in every circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:18); rejoicing even in suffering (Romans 5:3-4); love towards our enemy (Matthew 5:44-45); and forgiveness of one another (Colossians 3:12).

Anne Lamott says, “I do not understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us.”

And I, for one, am thankful that His grace is changing me.