A lifeguard who pulls a drowning man from the water, saving his life, has done his job, but how much better would it be if that lifeguard took that man under his wing for a few weeks to train him to be able to swim better and avoid mishaps in the water? That would be out of the ordinary and above and beyond the call of duty, but it would certainly be better.

Praise the Lord He’s that kind of lifeguard. Listen to what Titus 2 says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,” (vv11-12).

Notice that grace certainly brings salvation, but it also trains us to live a better life going forward, a godly life full of blessing. It doesn’t just pull us from the water and walk away. No, it disciples us, shapes us, and teaches us new abilities. Grace saves us and transforms us.

Some treat grace as a legal pardon only. Remove my guilt, and that’s good enough. But we have to realize there’s something past salvation. It’s what we call sanctification, which is being made holy like Jesus. If grace has truly appeared in your life, you should be seeing that transformation taking place. Where I was once ruled by sin, I am now being ruled by Christ and striving to live a godly life.

Grace doesn’t just leave you alive on the shore. It takes you from the shore and prepares you to re-enter the water and swim the coast with full confidence to the glory of God. Praise God for His transforming grace!

Change begins in you!