But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Tit. 3:4-7 (NIV)
Heavenly Father, to marinate in your Word is to submit to a grace-bombardment on our unbelief. This passage from Titus is a perfect example. What an all out assault these verses wage against our wrong thoughts of you, small views of the gospel, and micro-experience of your grace.
You’re much kinder than we imagine, and more loving than we ever hoped. Like Abraham, we weren’t seeking you when you found us. Your “kindness and love appeared” to us by surprise. It was entirely your action of measureless mercy and sovereign grace.
As surely as we had zero part in our first birth, so we contributed “zilch” to our second birth. We didn’t “show promise” or potential; you just kept your irrevocable promise to redeem a family as numerous as stars, sand, and dust (Gen. 12-17). Hallelujah, for the mathematics of mercy.
And how generous you were, and remain, Father. You didn’t just “dribble” a little Holy Spirit on us; you poured him out on me “liberally through Jesus”—copious amounts of heart washing, soul-engaging, whole-being goodness. By your grace, we’ve been justified freely and fully; our guilt is gone and our shame is shattered. The saints in heaven may be more joyful than us, but they aren’t more justified, loved, and secure. We praise the glory of your name.
Heir-ship and hope now define the rest of our lives in this world. Father, because the gospel is true, we want to live as conduits of your grace for the blessing of others. We have nothing to prove or earn, just a gospel to enjoy and share. What a God you are; what a calling we have. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ wonderful and merciful name.
