Over the last few days, we have been looking at why God calls us to “live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:12). So far we’ve seen that our godly living adorns the gospel (v10) and it is the sign that we are waiting for His coming (v13).
Today’s verse gives another reason – to show that we are His people: “…to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14).
Let’s just pause for a moment and think about this part of today’s verse: “a people for His own possession” (Titus 2:14). When a person becomes a Christian, they become part of God’s people. We have become part of a new community, we belong, we have a new identity. We are not just a national insurance (social security) number, we are a member of God’s community.
But more – “for His own possession” – we belong to Him. This is both comfort and challenge. It’s a comfort because this ownership is personal and intimate; we are precious to Him. It’s a challenge, because it means that He is also the boss of our lives; He says how we should live.
Every ethnic group is different – different ways of behaving and thinking and speaking. In the same way, the people of God are a different people. We have a different way to live. We are to be “zealous (eager/passionate) for good works.”
And so, living “self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:12) is how we do that. It shows that we are the people of God displaying our new ethnicity as born again people, children of the living God.
Praise the Lord today that you belong to Him and not the world or the devil. Ask Him to help you to live your identity as one of God’s people.
The best is yet to come 