Gift Giving

Titus 2-Part 5
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. Titus 2:11 NAS


LET IT GLOW

What gift do I give to each loved one? It's December and my focus is just that-gift giving. Oh the hustle and bustle of it all. We want to find "that" special gift which will make a child squeal, a spouse surprised, children happy, friends smile, and give us that warm feeling of love as the giver. It must be something on "their list" of what will make them happy to receive. I drive from store to store hunting "it" down, prepared to spend whatever is required. Time marches on. What has our society become? What have I become? It's my fault that my focus is on "gift giving" instead of on the greatest gift given to me-salvation. Have I been thankful today for the greatest gift that ever was given?

Verse 11 tells us that the grace of God has appeared.
Love is a kind of grace that appeared when Jesus came to earth in the form of a man. Paul called love the greatest of all Christian attributes in 1 Corinthians 13:13. As the motivation for God to give His gracious gift of salvation to me, so my motivation to give gifts should be love. It's because I have God's love in my heart and I love another person, that's why I give a gift.

The connecting word for begins our verse 11. It links what follows with what has gone before. What it says, in effect, is, to take on this new lifestyle-whatever your station in life, for or because God's grace has appeared. A person who sees, understands, and accepts this grace can't easily go back to his or her former lifestyle.  (Shepherd's Notes)

Warren Wiersbe, in his book Be Faithful"  said this:

The emphisis is on grace-God's lavish favor on undeserving sinners. Paul pointed out three wonderful ministries of the grace of God in verses 11-14. Grace redeems us, reforms us, and rewards us. People could not save themselves. God's grace had to bring salvation to lost mankind. This salvation was not discovered by sinners; it appeared to them via the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God in His grace sent His Son to redeem those in the bondage of sin.

Wonderful grace of Jesus!

In his book, Swindoll's New Testament Insights on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, he says:

A lteral rendering of this phrase is "Appeared the grace of God, salvation to all humanity." the term appeared best translates the Greek term epiphaino, from which we derive our word "epiphany." We might view it as a "eureka!" kind of word, adding an element of delight and surprise to the idea of discovery. Humanity didn't receive grace and salvation after a diligent search, or by pleading for help, or by approaching God. "Appeared the grace of God" by His own initiative, motivated solely by His goodness, despite our unworthiness. The Creator spontaneously and voluntarily reached down to rescue humanity from our own self-imposed, sinful condition.

His grace appeared as a gift to you and me. Do we accept it or reject it?


LET IT GROW


What has the grace of God  brought us? Salvation to all men. It is God's supremely gracious gift to fallen mankind, Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus' blood, body, and very life was sacrificed as death on a cross took it so I wouldn't have to pay for my penalty of sin. His resurrecting power gives us hope for our resurrection when the trumpet is sounded.

What is this gracious gift like?

• It is a free gift (to us). Ephesians 2:8-9 says For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it it the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
• It is an undeserved gift. Romans 3:23-24 says For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
• It is a gift with a purpose. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 says For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testifed in due time. 
• It is an eternal gift that never stops giving. John 3:16 says For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Kenneth Wuest points out that the Greeks used charis (grace) to refer to a favor that one does for another person, expecting no return. But, these favors were always done for friends. Christ gave grace a far richer meaning because the favor He did at Calvary was done not for friends but for those who hated him. Paul reminds the Romans that while we were still His enemies, He provided a way of reconciliation to God through his death (Rom. 5:10). (Shepherd's Notes)

Am I giving Jesus a gift this Christmas? Will I give myself as a willing gift, a gracious gift, my life, at the foot of the cross? Will I give His gift of love to others? Will I show grace to those who aren't gracious to me?


LET IT GO

Receive God's grace and give God's grace.

Give the gift of love this season.

Share God's gift of salvation to those without it.