While We Wait for Blessed Hope - Lent 2020
While we wait for the blessed hope—
the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:13
Each tribe, each culture has unique perspectives and varying worldviews. This can be said even within a tribe, such as the Winnebago [Ho-Chunk] tribe of Nebraska where I serve. And yet, I have learned a valuable lesson: people are the same the world over. In any given tribe or group of people, there are some who come in on time and put in a full day of work, while others come in late, take extended breaks, and leave early.
The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
These are harsh words. Truth be told, we are all sinners. There is no one who is righteous. We were born sinners and helpless to overcome the consequences of sin, namely death. Left on our own, we will be judged guilty.
People are the same the world over. And yet God loves all people. While God loves all people, He still hates sin. He is just and does not merely look the other way. Someone must (and already did) pay the price. Jesus, the Son of God, suffered so people of every tribe, nation, and language could seek His mercy and receive His grace.
Paul also wrote another pastor by the name of Titus: "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 self-controlled, 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 2:11-15)
Dear Creator God, I am sad to say that I, all too often, am just like godless people. Forgive me and fill me with Your Spirit so I can live an upright life as I wait for the blessed hope found in Jesus, my Savior. In His name, I pray. Amen.