Titus 2:11-15

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

I'm often amazed when I consider the grace of God.  We sing about it.  Preach about it.  We even try to live it out in our lives.  I've often been heard to say, "There are 2 kinds of people in the church; grace people and law people.  We need both to stay in check..."  I've always liked to think of myself as a "grace person," perhaps because I've needed so much of it in my life.  To that end, whenever I see verses about grace, I take pause and look at them.  I'm currently reading a devotional book called Ashes to Fire, in it are scripture passages arranged to guide the worshipper through the 100 days from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost.  One of the passages in today's reading was Titus 2:11-15.

Reading through, I saw the phrase "For the grace of God has appeared..." and I immediately started outlining what followed:

-The grace of God appeared... BRINGING salvation for all people

-The grace of God appeared... TRAINING us

-to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions

-to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives

-The grace of God appeared... while we are WAITING for the blessed hope

I liked what I'd come up with and felt like I'd really been with the Lord.  Then I saw verse 15:  "Declare these things. Exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you." Declare these things... It seemed so commanding to me.  In a manner, I suppose this post is my response to that directive.

I had the joy yesterday of spending some time with a new friend I've made in the last few months.  We talked about his work and his family... we chatted about all sorts of things, including faith.  As we talked about the nature of our belief systems, he made a statement that struck my heart: "I don't NOT believe what you say about the exclusivity of salvation through Jesus, but I can't understand why, if that's the case, that nobody is talking about it to people who don't believe."

I had to concede immediately that he was right.  We don't talk about it.  We don't tell...  I'm sure there are all kinds of reasons why, but if we consider the eternal implications of silence, our reasons for silence fail.  There's nothing confrontational about it.  No points to argue... just good news to tell:

The grace of God has appeared... 

...for all people... 

....bringing salvation...

....training in godliness...

....providing purpose as we wait for the Blessed Hope of Jesus' return.

Declare these things.