… 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.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

One of the most interesting things about this passage from Paul in Titus, is that he recognizes that Jesus wants to lead a people of his very own. We live in an age where thought and idea ownership seems up in the air. Personal information can be spied on with our digital devices. Cameras are on every intersection, with facial recognition software. AI can duplicate people’s voices, features, etc. to a point where it almost sounds like them.

Some do business and home life almost in an all-digital world. And they find that they have not valued or learned how to personally interact. There is something “un-real”, not just about our automation-driven world, but about our very relationships.

Here we see that Jesus came to have a people of his own. His own clan. His own family. Real relationships. And he wants for these people to … be eager. Not passive, or sublime, or compliant, or apathetic … but eager! And this eagerness drive is to be directed towards — goodness. A good heart, a good spirit, good habits, good motives, good relationship-building and a focus on doing good works!

Jesus didn’t die on the cross only to free us, he wanted to purify our hearts and minds to perfection. And then he wants to dwell with us and fellowship together as a people belonging to each other. How incredible is this!

When God created the world, Jesus was there. And, only one creature was created in God’s image — man. And so God wanted us to be, in some small ways, like him and relatable to him. Fast-forward to Titus, thousands of years later, and we see this theme arising again, a personal, relational God! And this is what he wants today, as well!

How will I respond to this incredible desire and invitation by the Almighty God to relate to me? Will I allow him to purify me for goodness?

Lord, thank you that you are so close to me right now. When challenges come — you are so close I can even smell the warmth of your breath. Create in me an incredible hunger for your Word. You are almighty on your throne and on the throne of my life!