The School of Grace

The way we should live is determined not so much by the circumstances we face, but by the decisions we make ahead of time! When God's grace enters our lives, the choices we begin to make change - sometimes quite dramatically. Grace has a way of not only 'cleaning up' one's life, but it has a way of 'keeping us washed' as we go through each day. Grace teaches us to live - not by the seat of our pants, but with purposeful steps taken consistently toward wise choices. Devotion to God isn't revealed in entering a monastery or convent. It is revealed in choosing to no longer live 'against' God - making choices that reflect our desire to live 'with' God.

That is the way we should live, because God’s grace has come. That grace can save everyone. It teaches us not to live against God and not to do the bad things the world wants to do. It teaches us to live on earth now in a wise and right way—a way that shows true devotion to God. (Titus 2:11-12 ERV)

Grace teaches us to live on earth - right here and now - making wise choices. Did you get that? Grace helps us with our choices! You might have thought you made all those choices on your own, but we are even assisted in our obedience! Obey or disobey - two sides of the coin. We think we independently 'own' the choices we make entirely on our own, yet God gives us the grace to make the right choices - he instructs us in choosing the right way. It may seem like a sad thing to you that we even need God's help to be obedient, but I am grateful for all the help I can get!

Grace teaches us - this indicates we all stand in need of this instruction. None of us is above learning. No matter where you are in this life, you can learn something new. You could be 100 or 10 - you are still learning. God's grace isn't finished instructing us. If we were to be entirely honest here, we would probably admit there is a whole lot each of us needs to know about how to make wise choices and to live in the way that consistently reveals our devotion to God. I need help with relationship issues - because I am not always kind in my actions or words. I need help learning how to avoid being drawn into unwise activities such as overeating, giving into fear, or finding fault in someone else's actions. I am not there yet, my friends. I need grace to teach me how to live.

How about you? Are you in need of attendance at the school of grace? Have you 'enrolled'? Enrollment is the first step in the sense of attending school, isn't it? You have to take that first step toward learning. Then you are partnered with educators within that school that help you to gain the skill you need. In much the same way, we say "yes" to Jesus (enrollment) and then we are partnered with 'educators' throughout our lives that help us to learn how to live on this earth now in a wise and right way. Our educators? The Holy Spirit, our pastors, learned friends who have walked this grace-walk alongside us. The list is enormous! We can learn of grace from many sources. We just need to get on with the learning! Just sayin!