Introduction

Welcome, friends. If you walked in today with your shoulders a little slumped, your steps a little slow, take heart. God has a way of meeting us in the middle of our Mondays. He brings hope to hurried schedules and comfort to cluttered hearts. He knows the doctor’s call you didn’t want, the bill you didn’t expect, the silence you can’t understand. He knows. And He is near.

We all know what waiting feels like. A child presses their face to the window, watching for the car lights of a loved one. A soldier counts the days. A parent checks the clock. Waiting can feel like the longest word in the English language. But for the Christian, waiting is not empty. It’s not a holding pattern. It’s a holy posture—eyes lifted, lamps lit, hearts ready. When you’re waiting on Jesus, you’re waiting on Someone sure.

Tim Keller put it like this: "The gospel is not just the ABCs of the Christian life, but the A to Z of the Christian life." —Tim Keller

Not a phase. Not a footnote. The same grace that saved you is the grace that sustains you and sets you in motion. It teaches you to look up, to lean in, and to live out what you believe. Titus reminds us that God’s grace not only pardons us but also prepares us—filling us with hope for His appearing, confidence in His sacrifice, and courage to live clean, kind, purposeful lives in a world that’s hungry for light.

Before we open our hearts wide, let’s open our Bibles and hear the Word:

Titus 2:13-14 (ESV) "waiting for our 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 lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."

There it is—three bright beams of grace: - Hope that looks for His appearing. Do you feel your chin lift when you hear that? The King is coming. Not as a rumor, not as a headline, but as a promise. - Love that explains the cross. He "gave himself for us." No one took His life; He laid it down. For you. For me. For us. - Purpose that reshapes today. He is making a people "for his own possession," clean and eager—hearts warmed, hands willing, feet ready—to do good.

Do you see how this settles the soul? Your future is secure, your past is paid for, and your present is packed with purpose. When you tuck this text into your pocket, you walk a little lighter. Your prayers grow bolder. Your ordinary Tuesday becomes holy ground. You start watching the horizon, trusting the wounded hands that hold you, and working with joy that someone somewhere will see Jesus in you.

So as we step into this word, think of it as God setting a porch light in your night, whispering, "I’m on My way." Think of the cross as His pledge: "I’ve already come for you." Think of your neighborhood, your workplace, your kitchen table as the place where heaven’s hope touches earth through your kindness, your purity, your zeal.

Let’s ask Him to do what only He can do—steady our gaze, warm our hearts, and ready our hands.

Opening Prayer: Father, we thank You for our blessed hope—the certain appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank You, Jesus, that You gave Yourself for us to redeem us and to make us Your very own. Holy Spirit, lift our eyes to the horizon of Your glory, anchor our hearts in the finished work of the cross, and cleanse our motives. Purify us as Your people. Make us zealous for good works—glad to serve, quick to obey, eager to reflect Your kindness. Open our ears to Your voice and our wills to Your way. Let this Scripture shape our thinking, soften our hearts, and strengthen our steps. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Live in Expectation of His Appearing

Hope has a shape. It touches your plans. It guides your hands. It steadies your voice. When Scripture says, "waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ," it is calling for a way of life. It points our eyes forward while our feet stand here. It invites a calm heart and a ready will. It makes you watch the days with a clear mind and a soft spirit.

This hope is "blessed" because its object is sure. The word "appearing" means He will be seen. Real. Public. Bright. No guesswork. So we live with open eyes. We make room in our calendar for what lasts. We hold comforts with care. We carry pain with courage. We keep short accounts in our homes. We forgive fast. We confess sin. We set alarms to pray. We practice simple habits that tell the truth about time. He is coming. That truth trains patience. It helps you sit with hard news. It helps you keep sowing good seed when the ground feels dry. It keeps you from panic when plans shift. It turns worry into watchfulness. It turns delay into steady work. You are not waiting for a date. You are looking for a Person. That changes the feel of every hour.

"The glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" tells you who He is. He is God. He is Savior. His appearing is glory. That truth shapes worship before it shapes schedules. You speak His name with love. You sing with a full heart. You open the Bible with hunger. You trust His power when you have no strength left. You lean on His wisdom when your ideas run out. You give Him your first thought in the morning and your last thought at night. And it shapes courage. Kings come and go. Markets rise and fall. Trends fade. His glory does not fade. His throne does not shake. So you do your work with peace. You raise kids with hope. You serve neighbors with joy. You say, "Lord Jesus," and you mean it. Every title in the verse fuels loyalty. "Great God." "Savior." Your life learns to match those words. Your lips praise. Your choices follow. Your fears shrink. Your prayers grow.

"He gave himself for us." Those five words carry the cross into your day. He was not forced. He chose. He stepped in for us. He paid a price we could not pay. That is what "redeem" means. He bought us out of the grip of lawlessness. That changes what you think freedom is. Freedom is not doing what you feel. Freedom is being set free to love what is right. Expectation rises from that gift. You are forgiven, so you can face God without dread. You are redeemed, so you can face today without chains. When old habits call, you answer with this line: He gave Himself for me. When shame whispers, you answer with this line: He gave Himself for me. When temptation presses, you answer with this line: He gave Himself for me. You take practical steps because of that truth. You ask a friend to check in. You set guardrails on your phone. You move your feet out of old paths. You say grace before meals and mean it. You write a verse on a card and keep it close. Redeemed people do not wait on the couch. They step forward in simple obedience, because the price has been paid and the door is open.

"And to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." Purify speaks to a clean heart and a clear witness. He is not making a crowd that just sits. He is forming a people who belong to Him. You carry His name into every place you go. That means daily washing. You confess. You turn. You ask the Spirit to search you. You keep short lists and quick amends. Belonging also means comfort. You are His. He will not forget His own. And zeal for good works means eagerness, not duty alone. You look for chances to do good before someone asks. You bring a meal without a fuss. You send a note that heals. You give time to someone who is lonely. You keep your word at work. You pay your bills on time. You speak truth without harshness. You welcome the stranger. You bless kids and honor elders. You show up early and stay when help is thin. You serve the church with your gifts. You care for your city with your hands. None of this earns His love. It shows it. It says to the world, He is real and He is kind. And every good work lifts your eyes again. You remember why you are busy in the best way. You remember who will soon appear. You remember whose you are.

Trust the Savior Who Gave Himself for Us

And right here we meet the line that steadies the heart: "who gave himself for us ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO