Grace! Do's and Don'ts!

                                                     "Titus 3:7
                                     "That being justified by his grace"

          If you try to visualize grace well, you just can't do it because it's such a tremendous concept.  We have a small portion of grace if you consider the grace God gives the whole world.  That's about all that man is able to comprehend of  the grace of God.  But we don't have to be able to take it all in at once to enjoy it's benefits.  Along with it's benefits, grace carries some definite obligations.  The grace of God teaches us to deny  "ungodliness and worldly lust"  (Titus 2:12).
          What  is ungodliness?  Among other things, it's leaving God out of your Life. That's easy to do.  A Christian fellow or girl can get so busy that no thought is given to what God wants; in the big things as well as the little things.  The way to over come this is to consciously include God in your plans.  Ask what He wants before you decide.
          "Worldly" lusts"  refers to those desires bound up with the social and economic system in which we live.  It includes a selfish desire for those things that appeal to the five senses and the things in which a person takes false pride.  Grace also demands some pluses in a Christians life.  Grace teaches us that  "we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:12b).
          Soberly doesn't mean long-faced or without humor.  There's nothing wrong with laughter or appreciating the funny things in life.  However;  it  means  "properly controlled"  or  "well balanced."   When it comes to living godly, some believers have a poor record.  Yes, they have high ideals, but they find themselves unable to measure up to God's high standards.  And after a while, they may not even try.
          "God understands,"  they say, excusing themselves.  But God's grace doesn't allow that!  And you can be sure that God will discipline them for their careless attitude.  Grace calls us to the highest moral conduct.  And grace provides help in time of need .  "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus"  (II Timothy 2:1).

                                             May God Bless You
                                              And Your Families

                                                                  Minister: Robert A. Lail
                                                                  The Cross Life Ministry