The Joy of the Great Rescue: Day 20 of Joy
He is God and Savior.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live sensible, righteous, and godly lives in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
—Titus 2:11-13
We often find ourselves trapped in a cycle of trying to “fix” our own lives. We use a human measuring stick to track our progress, hoping that if we just row hard enough or act “good” enough, we can earn a sense of peace. This leads to a life that feels overwhelmed by the fear of falling short.
Titus 2 reveals that joy doesn’t start with our effort; it starts with an appearance. Grace didn’t just send a set of instructions; it sent a Person. This passage contains one of the most powerful declarations in the Bible: He is our great God and Savior.
This message is the dual foundation of our faith. He is God, which means He has the sovereign power to hold all things together. And He is Savior, which means He has the heart to rescue us from our “fall.” Jesus gave Himself for us to redeem and save us.
You can be anxiety-free in your “sensible and godly living” because you aren’t working for salvation, but from it. Jesus covers your past and He is powerful enough to secure your “blessed hope” for the future.
The 90/10 Rule of the Blessed Hope
[read this article to learn more about the 90/10 rule]
The 10%: The struggle to “deny worldly lusts” and the pressure we feel to perform in the present age.
The 90%: The appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior. The finished work of redemption He has already accomplished.
If you focus on the 10 percent, you will live a life of weary moralism. When you give the 90 percent of your attention to the fact that He is God and Savior, your joy finds its anchor.
Identify one area where you’ve been trying to be your own “savior” lately. Today, intentionally trade that burden for the “blessed hope.” Remind yourself: “My great God and Savior has this handled.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I praise You as my great God and Savior. Thank You for the grace that has appeared and for the salvation You have brought to my life. I confess that I often try to save myself. Today, I rest in Your purifying work and wait with joy for Your appearing. Amen.
View all messages in the series at: www.faithsaves.us/t/joy-series-faith-saves-us