May 8, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Joshua and Titus? Here’s today’s reading:
Titus 1 (NIV)
1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,……Continue Reading
We know that God knows all things and that He sees the beginning from the end. He sees each one of us. Where we are in our walk with Him and how we are doing. This verse in Titus 1:2 speaks so much of that. Before He made the world and everything in it, He knew that humans would sin and need a Savior, which only He could provide. Titus 1:2 {In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.} In times of distress, we can be assured that He is right there with us no matter what happens. We only need to reach out to Him to help us. Why are we so unwilling to ask for help from Him? Yes, this is pride thinking that we can fix the problem ourselves. All we can do is pray to Him and place it all in His hands and let Him work. God wants our hearts fully surrendered to Him even after coming to Christ through salvation. Sometimes our adult children break our hearts because of sin, and we don`t know what to do about it. If they would only listen to us and come to Christ and follow Jesus. God will bring to pass what He desires and in His own time. But we need to keep praying for our children and grandchildren. In this please pray for our family especially the next few weeks. God bless you all.
Paul understood the role he played in God’s will to share the gospel and thereby cooperate with God’s eternal plan to see people saved. We can join Him too as we share the good news as well. Paul was also passionate about the church and understood that the protection of the church and its doctrine started with good leaders and good leaders are defined by the character they have. Just think about how different these character traits are compared to what is encouraged and fostered in the world. Leaders in the church are to care more about God than themselves and live in a way that reflects that. They are to care about people too and make sure they treat them properly. Titus and the other leaders also have a role to address false doctrine first by knowing and holding fast to the truth themselves and then addressing those that are trying to influence others. All types of people find their way into church, but all of them should be lead to the gospel and further godliness, laying aside the pattern of behavior encouraged in this world and adopting the pattern of behavior encouraged by Christ.
Paul tasks Titus with the job of spreading the gospel in Crete, which sounds like a challenging place much like the world today. Paul doesn’t tell him to do it alone but rather he is to gather leaders, good leaders, that will help in this mission. The characters of a godly man are certainly not ones that are looked to in this world for leaders; selfless, humble, gentle, generous and so many others that we would love to see today’s world leaders possess. But most important is God comes first, His will not our own, His words not our own, and to Him be the glory not our own. Especially in leadership positions all too often the temptation is to make things about ourselves but we can only do what we do and we only have what we have because of Him. My prayer is that He will keep me humble everyday and help me make my life more about Him and less about me.
Sounds a lot like letters to Timothy. Can’t imagine the weight Paul had on him to oversee all these new churches. Love the way he starts out this letter. God cannot lie. God has promised believers eternal life before the beginning of time!! Crete joins the battle of all others then and today. Rebellious people distorting the truth. Love the description of an elder here. Seen enough churches who appoint based on knowledge or skills. Puffs up! Much rather the character of a person’s life style to live out God’s word through life, gaining wisdom, as examples of God’s mercy and grace. Verse 15. Wow. Think evil you get evil Turn your thoughts to God and his word. More and more goodness. A mind filled with good had no room for what is evil
Titus 1