From Mighty Rivers

We have learned that grace is “The empowering presence of Christ that enables us to be who we were created to be and to do what we are called to do.”  This definition comes from I Cor. 1:3-8. It’s all there.

“Grace” is how we are saved, how we are sustained, how we are enabled to do God’s work and will. “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, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14.

Grace gives us zeal, healthy zeal, reporting-for-duty zeal. Titus 3:9 goes on to say “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.” Those things are not zeal; they are extremism, the opposite of moderation.

Paul said “Let your moderation be known to all men.” Phil. 4:5   Not your half-heartedness, but your “sweet reasonableness“.

Sandy and I went to an expensive restaurant. We looked at the menu and ordered one meal, and we split it. Eating at the restaurant was zeal; one dinner for two people was moderation. With zeal we ate half a meal.