Saving Grace

Titus 2:11-15


Prevenient grace is referring to the unmerited favor of God, which is present before we know of the existence of grace, and current when the sufficiency of grace moves from the unknown to being known. It is constant there as in common grace that is available for the saved and the unsaved. The difference in the participants has to do with once made known prevenient grace marks the awareness of divine love beyond limitations. Having to do with grace freely given, what does it have to do with Titus?

Paul, according to the above Scripture, trains Titus in "saving grace." Titus has not to work for the grace, but work in response to the grace. The means of grace is there for Titus and all men, who come to believe in the acts of God as seen in Jesus the Christ. Titus is encouraged to "speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you." (v.15)

I am saved by the grace of God. My years on earth have found me guilty of numerous acts of disobedience. While my sins are not worthy of coverage in the local, national, or international newspapers, the measure of them is no less than that of murders, adulterers, thieves, etc. Some times I thought I was not in error for my sins, and would have debated even God on the matter. No doubt I would want to convince God that it is only logical that I act as a human with physiological needs not always met inside the church. Needs that are not fed by the Book or through sacred prayers from the best of prayer warriors, if I ignore them.

I was driving onto the Robert F. Kennedy bridge in New York City on a nice warm summer day. While nearing the toll booth, I desired to ease into another lane, not uncommon in NYC. I do not own an e-zpass, a prepaid token to cross the bridge. An aggressive driver refuse to allow me to move over without a scene. He begin to yell over at me as he gave me his middle finger. Oh boy, stupidity loves company. So, I accomodated the partner in bad behavior and indignant attitude. I could have ignored him. I had just read a few hours earlier my devotion from Titus 3. I knew better than to involve myself in foolish disputes and useless chattered with the obvious bad day "nutty" fellow. But, I had jogged and felt like a child ready to knock the wind out of someone. Let me tell you, I threw him back a finger that did not mean what his meant. I meant for him to pull over so that I could knock his chattering block off.

I put on my biker gloves, so as to make them boxing gloves and told him to wait on the outside of the bridge. I was not thinking of any weapon beyond my fist in his mouth and eyes, and foot ... Well, you get the nature of my anger. I just was not going to have any "dissing" on me that day. I had all I was going to have from disrespectful people, and it was time to get it on. Well, he went through the toll booth first and like a jack rabbit was off so fast I could not catch him. I had to laugh later, because the devotional Word was not enough to refrain my childish nonsense or my low frustration tolerance, but God's grace remained sufficient.

Grace is available to everyone, but not acceptable to everyone. Point of prevenient grace is that known or unknown, received or rejected, accepted or denied grace is still grace. We should seek the understanding of grace, and not "cheapen" it. Grace reduced in value loses transformation power. Human beings are lost without the awareness of grace, and tend to minimize grace. Grace is too often misunderstood as a gift with no required reciprocity.

Now I understand why Mother would say: "To whom much is given, much is required." Free grace requires reaction by human beings. God is the preeminent stockholder of grace. Investing unlimited and unconditional love, God seeks a responsible uplifting joy from the recipients of grace. John Wesley reflecting on such would not disregard works. No, he would place works in the proper position. We work not for grace, but in response to the grace of God, Christian desires to be in obedience to God.

On the Kennedy bridge or 125th street in Harlem or wherever in creation, remember that north, south, east, and west the grace of God is the best. It is a grace that sustains, and once known to us we should put away childish behavior. Ignore attitudes of negative having a bad day, while lifting a crook finger fools. It is not worth the jail time to whip them. Give God the praise for grace, and ask that the same grace that saved your soul for heaven, save your mind and heart for the living of heaven on earth. In other words, do not respond to disrespectful people with a "I will whip you attitude." No, turn them over to Jesus. Then turn up the music and sing: "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus ..."

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy and grace us with self-control. Amen