Titus 2:11-14
What a intense passage to be covering when you are discussing the topic of hope. We head to camp in a few weeks and were given the teach material to read over and soak in. We are discussing different areas under the umbrella of the word Genuine with the first being: Hope. I think at first glance when we think of hope we see obvious conversation piece that Christ came and died for us and that is where our hope comes from. This statement would be true but I think it is far deeper then what we first think when we read this passage from Titus.
For starters verse 11 comes straight out of the gates by stating that it was by the grace of God that salvation was given to us. Grace is such a crazy concept that I don't think we fully and understand and take for granted each and every day. In a world of entitlement we act as if things are owed to us just because we are here today, demanding salvation for compensation. I think sometimes when we just go through the motions of salvation that we think we deserve salvation for simply being created by God or going to church and serving. I think often times we forget to step back and give thanks for the grace of God and for salvation. We get all of our hope from this unmeasurable truth that although we have chosen to turn our backs from the creator his grace is so deep, so powerful that he sent his Son to die on the cross for us. And that we to spend more time on the truth of his grace and not make it just apart of our "Christian Vocabulary Words" list.
I give thanks for this truth of grace and the hope that derives from it because we you continue to read through Titus things become very real and very honest quick. We see that because our salvation we are trained to renounce ungodliness and worldly passion and have self control and live godly lives in the present age. And as I read this my life because very open, very scary and very venerable because when I read this and how it correlates to my life now the two do line up. I have spent the last year chasing after promotions at work, creating idols out of ministry and choosing Netflix over times of scripture and prayer. I read passages like this and begin to get discouraged in my walk, and often times thinking what am I doing right, how can I lead if I can not lead myself and I allow a foot hold for the enemy. We are told that through salvation our lives change and we are trained a new and sometimes I doubt my walk and why they don't line up. But that is where the genuine hope from this passage appears because that although I am a sinner, and although I stumble and fall that God's grace is so much great that I am still and inheritance in His kingdom.
It is in the hope of Jesus Christ, and the promise of salvation that I can continue to push on each day. To better myself, to allow the training of the Holy Spirit to shape me, to sharpen me and to assist me in my walk. Hope is a powerful thing that God has blessed us with. We have the hope and assurance that salvation is here, they we have gained eternal life and that even when we stumble our God is a great, just, and forgiving God.
