Oct 27

October 27, 2013

Titus 2

One of my hobbies is restoring old VW's. My favorite VW was a 1978 Champaign edition convertible. One Christmas we decided to head to Pennsylvania for the holidays and I thought it would be fun to do some work on the car with my father. In the process of welding on new rocker arms my dad forgot that the gas tank was up front. In a matter of seconds the fire went from a little spark to the car being completely engulfed in flames. The garage we were working in was right next to the family room filled with 25 family members. I immediately yelled, "Everyone get out of the house and call 911." In that moment every person in the room followed the instructions and immediately exited the house. Many of the kids were bare footed and yet they walked outside in the snow. The end of the story is that the house had twenty seven thousand dollars damage, the car was lost, but no one was hurt because of their obedience. My family trusted my instructions and obeyed instantly.  

When it comes to obedience in life the wisest choice a person can make is to trust God. His wisdom will also save our lives.  

The highest goal of the Christian life is not information; it's transformation. But we start the transformation with teaching. Paul exhorts his young disciple to teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. And then in the ensuing verses he shows us what this means. It is far more than simply giving people facts. The facts must be applied and implemented into changed behavior. Older men, older women, young men and women, even slaves are to be transformed by the gospel message.

And all of this is based on the grace of God. If Jesus gave himself to redeem us from all wickedness; then we must devote ourselves to aim living holy lives. The goal is the ability to say "No" to ungodliness and our natural passions and to instantly obey the Words of God.

So when was the last time you said "No" to an ungodly passion and "Yes" to the path of a holy choice. Each yes and each no is the key to the victorious Christian life.

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"