Description
Titus 2:11-12 gives as a clue about how we may increase our self-restraint.
Titus 2:11-12
For the grace of God has appe… (visit YouTube for more)
Transcript
Titus 2, 11 to 12. For 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.
One of my worldly passions is the passion for chocolate. And for sure, of late, I have been eating more chocolate than I need.
It’s wonderful and I do believe that it is a gift of God to enjoy such things. Nevertheless, a whole host of problems come with unrestrained chocolate consumption, and particularly in one’s middle life. As I see my body start to change and expand, I know that this is a worldly passion I have to lay down. Anything that runs unrestrained in my life needs to be tamed, needs to be in submission, cannot stand in the way of my relationship with God.
Yes, I’m taking a small, apparently irrelevant example, because I don’t want to spill all my deepest, darkest secrets here. But this is a good way for us to think.
Christ himself said to take up our crosses and follow him. Take up that thing that may even cause our death. Knowing that we must go his way and lay down all other considerations.
We are not preaching a gospel of works and effort here. We are preaching a gospel of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit living within us. We must surrender our will, and he does the rest. And yes, in my case, that seems to be taking some time.
Lord God, thank you that your grace has come. Thank you that you patiently train us in the way of godliness. Thank you that you are transforming us into the likeness of Christ. Amen.
