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…Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. – Titus 2:14
Contained within the Apostle Paul’s letter to Titus, at the end of a sentence that is segmented into five verses; we are given the summation of the purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice.
In the first verse of this sentence we are told that, “the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (11). Then we are shown that His grace teaches us that, “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, (12). Righteous living should be the natural response to the gospel. And while His grace works within us, we are keeping our eyes upon “that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (13). This is the hope that keeps us walking upon the waters of this life; we walk with our eyes focused on the promise of Jesus’ second coming.
Then in the last verse we learn that the purpose of our redemption from all iniquity is to “purify to Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works” (14). Out of all the darkness and evil that imprisons this world, it is God’s intention that those who have responded to the gospel would be a special people set apart to shine as holy lights to glorify the God who redeemed them. Then as these lighthouses of hope, holiness and truth shine their beams across the turbulence that evil creates, those who are being tossed by tribulation, may see the light and desire to come to the shelter of its embrace.
When we understand the significance of our purpose; to be set apart by the righteousness that is formed within us through our union with the Lord, (for without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5), how can we bear to live in any way that would thwart God’s purpose for our lives?
Too often believers forget that while we have been saved from sin and condemnation, the purpose of our redemption is to be purified from sin. God has made us righteous through faith in Jesus’ atonement so we can have eternal life, but His Holy Spirit continues to make us holy so we can be the people God has intended us to be; conformed into the image of His son. We can’t afford to allow the lights He has ordained us to become be diminished by the influences of the world around us.
Remember your purpose, children. Fight to maintain a holy witness for the Lord who loves you and died to save you. Resist through His Spirit, the lusts of your flesh that can keep your light from shining as brightly as it can be. The brighter your light shines, the greater your witness will be for the Lord.
Let Him fulfill His purpose in your life and let His holy light in you become a bonfire.
Copyright 2024 by H. D. Shively
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