Just Say No

Good Morning,

Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
Titus 2:11-12 (NRSV)
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly.

If only.........

A term we use sometimes to wish for better times or a better life had we "only" done this or that at some point. As I read these short verses of Scripture my mind almost instantly said, "If only. If only these words could ring with an absolute truth."

That truth? It would be that we, all humanity, would fully understand the gift of "...grace of God that brings salvation..." and that people WOULD, truly, "...say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions..." and, that people would "live lives that are self controlled, upright, and Godly." Yes, if only.

Then, the thought came, "If only these truths were lived out by even just Christians...ALL Christians, who know that they have salvation by the grace of God." But, well, it's not, is it? Many of us, way too many perhaps, don't live lives that are self controlled or upright or godly...at least not as we should. We don't "just say no," as the old saw goes, to ungodliness or worldly passions. We are, after all, human beings with out frailties and faults.

The grace of God and the instruction of God through the Bible does teach us the things that we ought to be learning in these verses. That, of course, is that we live godly lives and put away the worldly passions that drive so many; that we be self controlled in how we live each day and, truly, to be the upright and Godly people that the Father would have us to be.

This Christmas season seems to be a most difficult time to realize these attributes, however, especially the "worldly passions" part, not to mention the "self controlled" part, as well. The world is filled with bigger, brighter, newer, better, more, more, more that we just HAVE to have as presents and gifts. That sort of wipes out the saying no to the worldly passions that inundate us at every turn. And self controlled??? With all of the goodies and such that are being almost forced upon us everywhere we go? Just how in the world does one say "No" to that perfect chocolate chip cookie? You know, the one that some friend or coworker has spent hours making for us? No? That would almost be an insult! Well, of course, one cookie in that situation wouldn't be so much self indulgence, but it's that we face this over and over and over. Thus, we lose what little self control many of us have.

I guess, these verses come our way at a time when we need to contemplate exactly what they say and what God wants us to learn from them. Today, although it's very obvious, we're to learn...especially during this season...that we are to "...say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to life self controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age," no matter what we face or what the world tells us we ought to do.

We need to listen to what God is telling us.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David