“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” Titus 3:3 ESV.
Reflection: what has God revealed about Himself to you?
When I first met my wife well over 40 years ago, I knew nothing about her. Of course, I had observed her at a distance, so I did know a few things; her external beauty, as well as how she interacted with others. But it wasn’t enough to just observe her. I really wanted to get to know her. And although I spoke English very poorly, we started going together, getting to know each other. And the more we talked, the longer we walked, the more we couldn’t wait for the next time, and ultimately to be together all the time. Over these many years, we have learned a lot about each other, as well as about ourselves, through being together. Through sharing life together; from celebrations and joy, to struggles and sorrow. One thing is for sure, I know my wife much better now than when I first met her.
In our focus verse today, Paul starts out explaining our condition before knowing God. Before He revealed Himself to us. “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,” Titus 3:3-4 ESV. Paul is pointing out here first our foolish ways without God. But then, just like when you see your spouse for the first time, everything changes. You just know you have to get to know them. Paul says that “the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,”. What was it that appeared? Or more correctly, who appeared? It was Jesus. God revealed Himself through Jesus, as Paul wrote “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,” Colossians 1:19 ESV. We also read this in the previous chapter, where Paul states “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,” Titus 2:11 ESV.
So let’s read Paul’s explanation to Titus of what God revealed about Himself through Jesus, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7 ESV. I suggest reading v4-7 several times as it is so packed with spiritual truths.
Jesus is “the love story of God”, revealed to mankind.
As you read this, and other amazing sections of scripture, all written down by men, you might wonder how were they able to have such deep knowledge and insights of God? Well, clearly God revealed Himself to them, as they spent a lot of time with Him. And that point is so very interesting to consider, about our relationship with God through Jesus. He does not reveal Himself all at once, in a similar way to our human relationships. It takes time to get to know each other, although God already knows us as He created us. But He will not reveal Himself all at once to us. I don’t think we could handle that, just like I doubt we could even handle knowing everything about our spouse all at once. We are complicated beings, fearfully and wonderfully made, as David wrote. And God is infinitely more complicated than us, and yet He desires for us to get to know Him.
So as you consider your relationship with God, what do you personally really know about Him? Not just what you have read about, or heard about HIm. But what you personally have experienced walking with Him. What is He like, to you? What else are you curious to know about Him? Are you spending enough time with Him to get to know Him better? He desires for all of us to get to know Him, and will reveal Himself to us, if we want.
