Gene’s Daily Scriptural Postings.

A Daily Email Devotional from the

Berean Bible Society

Grace Takes Over Where Mom Left Off - Titus 2:12

by Pastor Ricky Kurth

"The grace of God... appeared... teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11,12).

When I was a boy, my mother taught me to be good. I wasn't under grace, I was under law--the law that Solomon called "the law of thy mother" (Pr. 1:8)! When I was good, she'd reward me, but when I was bad, she'd punish me--just like Moses' law did for the Jews (Lev. 26). Her "rod of correction" (Pr. 22:15) was one of those long leather straps that barbers used years ago to sharpen their razors, and I can assure you it sharpened my behavior on many occasions!

But as every parent eventually learns, the day comes when a child is too old to take over your knee. The Apostle Paul had that in mind when he wrote, "a child...is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father" (Gal. 4:1,2). In those days, children had tutors who taught them and governors who punished them with a rod. But that only went on until Dad realized his boy had become a young man. After that, he'd correct his son with words, the way you parents of older children correct your adult sons.

In the rest of Galatians 4, Paul uses this as a simple illustration of the difference between law and grace. Under the Law, God treated His peo