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Titus: Just say no.
Welcome to the weekly lift number 82, Tuesday 2nd November 2021, as we continue in thankfulness through the New Testament. Today we look at Paul's letter to Titus: "just say no".
In 1982, Nancy Reagan launched the now-famous anti-drug campaign known as "just say no". For all the effort put into it, it was regarded by many as a failure. Telling kids to "just say no" to drugs was not appealing or influential, it seems.
When Paul writes to Titus, a young pastor, he encourages him to teach the church to "say no to ungodliness". But it's not just "say no"...
Titus 2:11-14
11For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 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 appearing of the glory 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.
Paul's message to Titus is not "just say no". Paul's message also provides the motivation we need. The grace of God teaches us, he says, while we wait for the blessed hope of Christ, who gave himself for us.
Grace is the motivation.
The grace of God, the free and undeserved gift of salvation, is our motivation to say "no" to ungodliness. Titus is to teach these things, along with the motivation we need to say "no" to ungodliness:
Titus 2:15
15These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Teach these things. With encouragement and rebuke.
No, this isn't really a weekly lift about thankfulness. (The word "thanks" isn't really in the letter to Titus!) But we do have words for us here that encourage and rebuke us, with motivation. And for this we can be thankful.
The motivation is not "just say no - it's good for you!" The motivation is grace. God's grace. He sent Jesus to die for our sins. Why? To make us his people. To bring us to him.
God wants you.
He paid the price for you.
Our identity is as a child of God now.
We are simply being called to live according to who we are.
We can be thankful God gives us the motivation we need to be godly. Of course we often fail at this and may need a rebuke. But the motivation God gives us is enduring.
Keep coming back to this one thing - you are God's child. Through grace, God has brought you to him. So say "no" to ungodliness, and when you don't, then remember his grace, his undeserved kindness, and return to him once more.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace. Thank you for bringing me to you. Help me to say no to ungodliness, and to live a self-controlled, upright and godly life. And when I do not, thank you for your grace which allows me to return to you, as your child, seeking your forgiveness. Amen.