Three Lessons Grace Teaches Us (2)—Live Soberly - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly in the present age.
Titus 2:11-12

Three Lessons Grace Teaches Us (2)—Live Soberly
These instructions arrange themselves under three distinct headings, as suggested by the words "soberly, righteously, and godly."

Soberly refers to the inner circle of one's own heart. It simply means with inward self-government, a most comprehensive expression. The grace that saves me teaches me to exercise a holy government over self. I am to govern my thoughts, govern my tongue, govern my temper, not in order to be saved, but because I am saved. The One who teaches me to exercise this government has saved me before ever He commenced His course of instruction. It is as a saved person that I submit my whole moral being to the wholesome control of my heavenly Teacher. The law could not teach me to govern my nature. It condemns me, throws me overboard, and leaves me there. Grace follows me, saves me, and endows me with a new nature, and seals me with the Holy Spirit so I can exercise myself in self-government.

These things might enable me to subdue some of the accessories of self while the parent stem was left wholly untouched. But "the grace of God that brings salvation" gives me victory over self in all the length and breadth of that comprehensive term. Full victory over all the evil that dwells in me is as much a part of "salvation" as deliverance from hell. Regretfully, we fail to make use of this victory. Through spiritual indifference and unbelief, we fail to possess ourselves practically of that full salvation which grace has brought us; but that in no wise alters the truth of the matter. If I am a saved man I should live as a saved man in every respect.

C. H. Mackintosh