When our son Clayton was a toddler, just learning to form and express words that had any semblance of familiarity to us, there were many voices in our church family in Kentucky that sought to have influence over his vocabulary. One such person was our church secretary, Flora. Flora celebrated 45 years of service at Latonia Baptist Church before we left there in 2001, and as far as I know, is still the secretary there. One afternoon I had Clayton with me in the office and had to make an unexpected visit to the hospital, so Flora volunteered to keep an eye on him while I was gone. By the time I got back, she had introduced a new word to him and it was obvious that both of them were extremely proud of themselves. With a big smile on his face, holding onto a chair as his legs were still a bit unsteady, he stood as tall as he could and then declared with a clear and certain conviction his new word..."No!" I looked at Flora and she began to laugh for she knew he would now use this word indiscriminately and often. It was easy for his young lips to form and say, and for the first few times he used it, we thought it cute and disarming. To be told by your young son, "no," again and again, however, quickly loses its charm.
This little two-letter word carries great emphasis in our lives. It declares position, delights and confounds, blesses and curses. Paul encourages Titus in our text today to remember that the grace of God that offers salvation for all, "teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age..." At times we reduce this call to holiness to the level of triviality in our Lenten expressions, believing that by saying "no" to soft drinks, cheeseburgers, television, or any of a myriad of other life choices that are "given up for Lent," we are embracing a season of authentic sacrifice. Now, saying "no" to some of these things is significant in our approach to a healthier lifestyle, better time management, etc...but Paul is talking about a way of living that isn't limited by season or momentary deprivation. He speaks to a change of life that as the great hymn writer Isaac Watts declares, "...demands my life, my soul, my all."
Lent calls us to godly living...to self-control...to say "no" to that which dishonors the Christ who on your behalf and mine, said "yes" to the cross.
Jim Abernathy
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