Day #181 - Waiting for Glory
The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 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 appearing of the glory 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
Have you ever heard of layaway?
I remember when I was growing up that my mom would put clothes or special items on layaway. Layaway is when you put a deposit on something and it belongs to you. You don’t get to take it home or possess but it is held for you until the full payment has been made. Layaway falls short of describing the glory we wait for, because the payment has already been made in full, but its similar in the sense that there is a greater fullness that awaits us in the world to come.
God shows us something powerful through the writings of Paul here in Titus: grace not only offers us salvation but teaches us to turn away from ungodliness and assures us of future glory. Many people chalk grace up to God being soft on sin. But grace is not just a favor on our behalf, it is also a force of God’s nature in our lives to empower us not to sin. We have been given grace because of how Jesus gave Himself to redeem us and purify us by His blood.
The grace of God that has been shown to us gives us this help to live lives that are godly and self-controlled. We are to live this way in light of the greater presence we will experience as we wait for “the blessed hope - the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” How amazing is grace? It was secured for us in the past. It empowers us in the present. And grace is a downpayment for us who are waiting for glory.
The grace of God is amazing now and the glory of God that we have received in a deposit now is wonderful. But oh the glory that will be revealed when Jesus appears. We were created for glory. We were created for “the Presence.” The return of Jesus is “the blessed hope” because we will get to dwell with God again forever and ever.
The early church used a word “maranatha” which means “Lord come” or the “Lord has come.” Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus, we are waiting for the fullness of what grace has purchased. We are waiting for glory.
Lord Jesus, come. Maranatha. I long for Your return. I am waiting for the fullness of Your glory. Thank you for Your grace through Your sacrifice. You empower me to live free from sin, but I long for the day where I am free from the presence of sin altogether. I was made to dwell with You and experience the fullness of Your presence. I wait for You. In your holy name, amen.
I agree with you, "You empower me to live free from sin, but I long for the day when I am free from the presence of sin altogether. I was made to dwell with You and experience the fullness of Your presence. I'll wait for You. In your holy name, amen."
My heart yields to Your presence in my life. I depend on You. Lord, please continue to live Your life through me in such a way as to draw the lonely, lost, and hurting into a transformative relationship in You. Your Holy Spirit can transform us to be more and more Christ-like. Please continue the process.
In total agreement with your prayer. I thank Him daily for His grace that help me to live a Godly life as I wait for "the blesseed hope," when I can finally dwell totally in His presence forevermore. Until that day Lord, please continue to mold me into that which You want me to be so that Your life is glorified through me. Yes, Lord Jesus come, Maranatha!