by Jordy van Gaalen

Waiting and Living in Hope

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 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.”
Titus 2:11-14 NIV

The grace of God has appeared to all men. God sent His Son to die in order to bring salvation to all, to everyone. The people in our neighborhood, the people we pass by on our daily commutes, people living in every country, people living on every continent in the most remote of locations. Salvation is for all. The grace of God reaches to everyone.

This grace points us to live in righteousness. We follow the example that Jesus set during His time on earth. He has shown us how to turn away from temptations, from desires of the flesh, and the ways in which the world goes astray from God’s Word. 

We are in a period of waiting. We wait for the appearance of our Savior. We wait for the day when we will live and walk with God, in full communion and full eternal life. As we say no to that which harms us and that which God has shown us leads us away from Him, we lean into the hope of His coming. 

Salvation is a free gift which encourages us toward good works. We have been redeemed. We have been washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are new creations, purified by the sacrifice of Jesus. This love and grace that has been poured out on us should stir within us an eagerness. An eagerness to do what is right and what is good. An eagerness to shine with the light and love of our Heavenly Father. Let us live today and every day in the hope of salvation, eager to do what is good, the good that Christ set an example of.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado