Titus 2:11-14

 11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It
teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self controlled,
upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the
blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for
himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Meditation
1. Paul has a rather long string of exhortations, judgments, and condemnations
for the flock under Titus’ leadership. But now he puts his rebuke in the
context of the gospel. The hard admonitions of the preceding verses ought
to be balanced with this affirmation of faith. Grace comes to all. Yet salvation
has an ethical component: renouncing and training, letting go of our old
selves in order to embrace our new selves in Christ.
2. Ask God to guide me in one or all of these growth:
 □ turning my back on “ungodliness and worldly passions”
 □ taking on a “self-controlled, upright and godly” life
 □ believing that this new life is starting right now “in this present age”
 □ being “eager to do what is good”
 □ other: __________________________________________

Personal Note:
The grace of God is the forgiveness of sins.  When I reflect, when was a time when worldly passion brings joy and peace?  When I live self controlled and upright lives, having hope in Christ, I have joy and peace myself and I naturally was eager to bring this joy and peace to others around me.