Trained by Grace - The Crosswalk Devotional - April 24
Trained By Grace
By Emily Rose Massey
“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…” (Titus 2:11-12, ESV).
I grew up in a religious denomination that kept me further bound to my perfectionist tendencies and rule-following nature. Sadly, I saw God as vengeful and angry who would smite me down if I was not perfect. I spent many years striving to earn God’s love, viewing Him more like a dog trainer than a loving father; It was very exhausting. The Lord rescued me and regenerated my heart in my early 20s, but because it was difficult for me to shake my religious upbringing. My understanding of the gift of grace was distorted for many years, even after becoming a Christ follower. Tragic, considering the Bible speaks of God’s grace, charis, over 150 times in the New Testament. Imagine what life for believers would look like if we had ultimate clarity regarding the beautiful gift of grace that could fill their life and be shared with others! Let’s take a moment to define grace: God's free, spontaneous, absolute lovingkindness towards humanity. Grace (charis) is the grand, overarching gift of God from which all other blessings flow. Charis contrasts with law-keeping, duty, debt, works, and sin.
The same grace that saves us is the same grace that will change us. There are different dimensions to grace for the believer: salvific grace and sustaining grace. Salvific grace means we are justified by God’s grace as a gift of righteousness through redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by Christ’s blood (Romans 3:24). This is the sole working of God. Sustaining grace, on the other hand, is a partnership with God as we work out our salvation with Him (Philippians 2:12) and see our lives transformed in righteousness (sanctification). We see this depth of grace spoken of in Titus 2:
”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…” (Titus 2:11-12, ESV).
Intersecting Faith and Life:
The riches of God’s sustaining grace are many times greater than the vast eternal riches of His saving grace. God wants our lives to be enhanced by the riches of His sustaining grace as we say no to worldly passions and yes to holiness. Grace is what is working in and with us, designed to walk, work with, and spur us on. Grace trains us to be holy and obedient, loving God, and His people. In what ways have you been strengthened and trained in righteousness in the last 6 months? In what ways would you like to be strengthened and trained these next 6 months?
Remember to ask for accountability. We aren’t meant to walk this journey in growing in grace as Christians alone! Grace drives us to work hard for (1 Corinthians 15:10) and serve God. It is a power, a force that drives, equips, and calls us into ministry wherever He sends us. Grace supplies us in our suffering for it is sufficient in all circumstances. Christ’s grace and strength are made perfect in our weakness so we must lean upon His grace to persevere through every trial (2 Corinthians 12:9) until He calls us home to Him.
Different quantities of sustaining grace are given to each believer in different circumstances in life. In what area of your life do you need more of God’s sustaining grace? In humility, how can a brother or sister in Christ pray specifically regarding this area of struggle? His grace is available to you. Come to Him in humility and receive His great grace!
Further Reading:
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Related Resource: How Habit Stacking Will Help You Discipline Your Mind, Body, & Spirit
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