The heartfelt cry among many people is “How can I experience a life of fulfillment?” People search for fulfillment in a number of ways, but for many it seems elusive. The Apostle Paul provides an answer:

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. (Titus 2:11)

You can experience fulfillment as you understand and appropriate God’s grace. Those who have received God’s grace become dispensers of God’s grace to others.

We tend to view grace as God’s forgiveness when we’ve done wrong. This is true, but grace not only provides freedom from the penalty of sin, but grace also enables us to have freedom from the power of sin. Grace is not an excuse to do as we please, but the power to do as we ought. Paul declared that where sin increased, grace abounded all the more:

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)

God’s grace offers salvation to all people. The word salvation is a term that conveys the idea to save, heal, or to make whole. God’s grace not only saves us, but it teaches us to say no to sin:

instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age (Titus 2:12)

Are you experiencing God’s freedom from the power of sin? His offer is available but it’s not automatic. Worldly passions such as what we have, what we do, what others think of us, and what we desire can hinder our spiritual life:

Possessions – We spend money that we do not have, on things we do not need, to impress people who do not care. It’s not wrong to own possessions but our possessions must not own us.

Performance – We pursue titles and accomplishment but fail to pursue God’s righteousness.

Popularity – When we’re unclear about our identity in Christ, we may seek external validation from others.

Pleasure – From the world’s perspective some of our pleasures may not be bad, but they don’t draw us closer to God.

Worldly passions may bring a living person to death, but God’s grace can bring a dead person to life. Regardless of what you’ve done, God’s grace can redeem your past. You may be thinking that God can’t use you – you’ve made too many mistakes. God is in the business of transforming lives. It’s comforting to know that I am not what I might be, I am not what I ought to be, I am not even what I want to be, but thank God I’m not what I used to be. Our future is as bright as the promises of God:

looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus. (Titus 2:14)

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

Follow me on twitter:  rickhiggins5