The Blessed HOPE

_Read: Ezekiel 3,4; Psalm 124; Titus 2_

*Scripture:* Titus 2: 11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

*Observation:* When Christians tell their testimony, many of them vividly narrate the details of their past (godless/sinful/rebellious) lives. Only a few say about their present transformed lives. Some Christians think their salvation experience is of the past tense. They neither relate it to their current/present life nor to their future. Titus 2 is an excellent chapter in the Bible that speaks of Christian ethics and faith. It gives an idea of three tenses of salvation: Past (v.11), present (v.12), and Future tense (v.13). These verses remind us about our justification, sanctification, and glorification (Rom.5:1; Eph.2:8,9; 1 Cor 1:18; 1 Thes. 5:9; Rom. 8:11). Verse 13 says, “the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” is our blessed hope.

Here, the title attributed to Jesus as “great God” explicitly refers to his divinity. “Wait for that blessed hope” means waiting with the expectation of Jesus’ coming. It is “a spiritual attitude” of a true follower of Christ. A Bible commentary writer says it is “the antidote to worldly lusts, and the stimulus to “live in this present world” conformably to this expectation.” We may think, “Why is it the blessed hope? We have the hope that we will be taken up and will be with the Lord forever when Jesus comes again (1 Thes.4:13-18). The grace of God that saved us teaches us to live holy and trains us to wait for the blessed hope. C.S. Lewis says, “The doctrine of the Second Coming teaches us that we do not and cannot know when the world drama will end. The curtain may be rung down any moment: say, before you have finished reading this paragraph.” Let us examine ourselves: If Christ comes today, will we be with him? When we wait for the blessed hope, we will live as noted hymn writer Fanny Crosby writes, “Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.” Do we expectantly wait for this blessed hope?

*Application:* The Bible repeatedly says of Jesus’ second coming. As a follower of Christ, I must be ready for Jesus, whatever time he comes. Christ is my blessed hope. When he comes, I “will appear with him in glory” and “shall be like him” (Col.3:4; 1 Jn.3:2). How blessed it is, both in the world and heaven, to be like Jesus! I am patiently and expectantly waiting for Jesus.

*Prayer:* Almighty God, thank you for your grace and abundant love that saved me. Jesus, help me live holy, and give me your strength to say “no” to sinful temptations and worldly lusts. Holy Spirit, strengthen me to live a Christ-controlled life with an expectation of Jesus’ imminent return. Amen.

✍️: Arputharaj Samuel
📕: Quiet Time Companion
🗓️  Day –  307