Live Godly, in This Present Age

“…The grace of God… teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Clearly from this verse of instruction we see that we are not to simply sit idly while wondering when God will ever get here and fix the mess people have made of His creation. There is an active waiting implied by this verse in Titus chapter 2.
What is expected of us? We are to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives.” That takes careful thought and planning, my friends. Righteous living doesn’t just happen to us. There is a decision we all make whether to follow Christ’s example, or not. We decide to practice holiness, or worldliness.
I know, I know, it's easy to be overwhelmed by politics and outrages and injustices on the world’s stage, all things we have little if any power to affect. And yet, we can let slide the smaller acts of justice and holiness within our own conduct that are within our power. It’s the old story of the mote and the beam. While we focus on the speck in our neighbor’s eye, we have a tendency to ignore, the log in our own eye.
Ask yourself these questions:
1. Am I living a self-controlled life? Do my appetites, or temper, or hobbies or opinions have an inordinate amount of influence on how I live, what I say or how I act?
2. Am I living a godly life? What daily practices do I employ to encourage myself in my Christian walk?
3. Do I really believe what the Bible says about the day of Christ’s return? Do I believe that one day all injustices will be righted, sins judged and holy living rewarded? Do I live like I believe those things?
We are not to put our “heads in the sand” but we are also not to fret over things we ourselves can not control or set right. We are to do what we can but we must not forget to trust God, in all things. Despite how bad things get, and we can order our hearts, minds and lives and practice holy living, daily. Do not despair, beloved.
Peace.