But Wait, There’s More!

I love infomercials.

No, I don’t.  But I must admit, some fascinate me.  I like the ShamWow guy, especially when he says “I can’t do this all day.”  And the Snuggie – “The blanket with sleeves! The Snuggie keeps you totally warm while giving you the freedom to use your hands like work the remote.”  It sounds miraculous – while wearing a Snuggie, I can actually do incredibly complex human feats, like work my remote, and switch off the Snuggie commercial.

Would any self-respecting man actually get into one of those things?  Would any manly man actually say to his wife, “Hey honey, let’s get into our Zebra-print Snuggies and watch another episode of  ‘So You Think You Can Dance’?

I think the favorite phrase of infomercial hucksters is, “But wait, there’s more.”  Not only will they ship you 2 Snuggies for the price of one, they’ll send you 16 mini ShamWows AND if you order today they’ll throw in the Magic Meat Loaf Machine.  But wait, there’s more!”

The apostle Paul pulls a “But wait, there’s more!” in Titus 2.  He begins by telling us the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation.  What more could we want than salvation?  All our sins forgiven, declared righteous, adopted as sons and daughters, joint-heirs with Christ!  Astounding!  But wait there’s more!

Grace does so much more than bring salvation to us.  Grace goes to work as a personal trainer.  Hey, Oprah’s got nothing on me with her personal trainer.  You should meet my personal trainer – the almighty grace of God.

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, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2.11-14)

Grace not only saves us, but it trains us to spurn ungodliness, and worldly passions.  Grace isn’t greasy – it doesn’t encourage us to sin.  It vigorously trains us to reject sin, lust, and the love of the world.  But wait, there’s more!

Grace also trains us to live self-controlled, upright godly lives while we wait for Jesus to return.  Grace teaches us to control ourselves.  Grace builds discipline into our lives.  Grace tutors us to think, speak and act in godly ways.  Grace builds patience in us to wait for Jesus’ return.  But wait, there’s more!

Grace creates zeal for good works.  Grace transforms us from small-hearted, self-serving, sin-enslaved creatures into big-hearted, others-oriented, slaves of righteousness who are zealous for good works.  Praise God for his glorious grace!  But wait, there’s more!

What more could there be?  All this training is for a glorious end – the blessed hope, the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ!  Face to face with the infinitely beautiful One for all eternity.  And all for the low, low price of…..the free gift of God.

But wait, there’s more!  Let’s give God thanks for all his rich blessings in Christ.

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