Titus 2:11-14 (English Standard Version) 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.

1 Corinthians 15:9 & 10 (ESV) For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

People think of different things when they hear the word, GRACE. For some people it is simply a Biblical term that they know is part of salvation but have never given real thought to all that it implies. Others see it as a means of salvation but treat grace as a license to do whatever they please. Often any word of exhortation or admonishment to live godly is termed, “law” and treated as anti-grace. The Biblical view of grace, according to the verses above is the very active unmerited favor of God that not only brings us salvation but trains us to live a godly life, enables us to serve God, and gives us a hope for a glorious future.

Recently, I visited with Sol Pitchon at the Pregnancy Center, which is one of the missions we support as a church. I was very impressed with how neat and orderly things were kept. Sol pointed out to me that he believed orderliness is a gift from God that brings peace. He went on to explain that people who come to the pregnancy center have their lives in disarray so the more orderly and precise things look, the more calming they are to that person in need. He went on to quote the verse:

1 Corinthians 14:40 (ESV) But all things should be done decently and in order.

Last Sunday, Abigail Kimes came to me with a very good question: “Why did God accept Abel’s sacrifice but not Cain’s?” (This is a very thoughtful child.)

My first response was to go to the answer in Hebrews which states that Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain because he offered it by faith.

Hebrews 11:4 (ESV) By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

When we set our minds on something – we want it now! That’s the American way. That is not God’s way of doing things. Granted, God can bring about major changes in our lives or in the lives of others immediately. He has that power and He is sovereign.   God’s Word gives us insight to change little by little.  

Deuteronomy 7:22 (ESV) The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you.