Journal Entry // October 22, 2021
who gave himself for us 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 ESV
Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice to not only redeem us from the sin that oppressed us in our rebellion, but to purify us. In my journey through this life I find myself forgetting these two points. One, that God has/is working all things for my redemption. Second, that he is purifying me for himself. He brings me back and makes me into something new.
He redeemed me from all lawlessness. The bond of guilt and shame tied to sin and rebellion has been broken. My debt of guiltiness has been paid in full through the death of Christ on the cross. He took my every sin, each and every one, and bore the guilt and shame upon himself on the cross. He has redeemed me. He has purchased me. He has chosen to spread the hem of his robe around me. He has rescued me from despair and meaninglessness, from lawlessness. He has written his law of life upon my heart and taken away the chaos of life in the world being tossed about by every wave and storm. His redemption brings peace and comfort in the storm of life for I am his and he is mine.
In this redemption he has given me a purpose. He is to purify me. He is to remove from my life the remaining sin and rebellion. He is to cut out any sin and rebellion that continues to darken my heart. He is to draw it out like poison from a wound. He is to prune me like a tender plant in his garden. He is to melt me like a precious metal and remove the dross that corrupts. He purifies my heart.
In purifying my heart, he gives me the desire for good works. He makes me zealous for good works. Meaning that it is not only a priority in my life to do good works to please him. It’s not some duty that I feel obligated to perform in response to redemption and purification. No, he makes me zealous for good works. It gives me pleasure to do good works. It gives me pleasure to please my savior. It is all I can think about. It is all I can talk about. It is in my DNA. I can’t not please him with God works.
This is the antidote for continued sin in my heart. I want to join in the purification of my heart. I want to participate in cutting away the darkness from my heart. I want to cut off my right hand if it offends. I want to gouge out my eye if it is a source of sin. In other words, I want to be ruthless and intentional in purification. There is no shame before Christ. For when I come to him in repentance and humility, I am beating in rhythm to his heart. My aims are now his aims and he will purify me and make me zealous for good works. This is the joy of his kingdom. Finding pleasure and fulfillment in Christ alone.