Saturday, September 9, 2017, 4:56 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Lord, Move Me.” Speak, Lord, your words
to my heart. I read Titus 2:1-14
(ESV).
Sound in Doctrine (v. 1)
But as for you, teach what accords with sound
doctrine.
Not all of us are teachers,
in a formal sense of the word, but we all teach something each day by our
lifestyles, words, attitudes and actions, for good or for bad. For, we ought to
all have people whose lives we influence, because we should, if possible, have
some human contact each day. Also, for us who are followers of Jesus Christ, we
are to be the light of Christ to a dark world, the salt of the earth, and to
proclaim the excellencies of HIM who called us out of darkness into his
wonderful light. As well, we are to go and make disciples of people of all
nations, baptizing, and teaching them to obey all things Jesus commanded (Matt.
5:13-16; 28:18-20; 1 Pet. 2:9).
Since we are to be the light
of the world and the salt of the earth, to proclaim the excellencies of Christ,
and to make disciples of people of all nations, we need to make certain that
what we are proclaiming is sound in doctrine, i.e. that it is the truth, and
not twisted truth or half-truths designed to make people feel good in their
sin. So, what is doctrine? “Doctrine, then, is scriptural teaching on
theological truths” (1), i.e. scriptural (biblical) truths. “According to one
definition, doctrine is teaching from God about God
that directs us to the glory of God (2). I like that one!
Sound doctrine, essentially,
is the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). It makes no compromise with the
world in order to make nice with the world, but it presents the truths of
scripture according to the context in which they were written, for the purpose
for which they were written. In other words, it does not pull scriptures out of
context to support a particular chosen belief while ignoring the bulk of
teaching in the Bible on that same subject (or subjects).
Too many people stubbornly
hold on to particular beliefs, even though the bulk of scripture speaks the
opposite, or even if, in comparing scripture with scripture, we are able to see
that a particular held belief is not fully supported in scripture, and thus we
must form our beliefs based upon all teachings on that subject, and not just
the ones that support our beliefs. It would behoove all of us to be good
students of the Word of God, not to support preconceived beliefs, but to find
truth, and then to live the truth.
Sound in Faith
(vv. 2-6)
Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified,
self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women
likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine.
They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their
husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and
submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
What does it mean to be “sound”
in faith? It means to be complete, thorough, unblemished, unadulterated
(unmixed) and firm (secure), without wavering. It means we are no longer like children
being tossed here and there by every wave of teaching, by the trickery of men,
by craftiness in deceitful scheming (See: Eph. 4:11-24). It means we first know
the truth, are certain that what we believe is truth, and then we stand on what
we believe, but not just in theology or doctrine, but in practice, day in and
day out, no matter the circumstances, and no matter who we are with at the
time. We don’t blend in with the world to be accepted, and we don’t compromise
our faith to not be rejected or persecuted. And, it means we walk (in
lifestyle) no longer after the flesh, but according to the Holy Spirit.
Although this section of
scripture deals with particular groups of people, for the most part what is
instructed to these specific groups applies to all who call themselves
followers of Jesus Christ. We should all be serious-minded about our walks of
faith in Jesus Christ. Too many people take God the Father, Jesus Christ, the
Holy Spirit and God’s Word all too lightly, and do not take them to heart, to
make God and His Word a reality in their daily lives. This doesn’t mean we go
around with frowns on our faces all day long or that we never laugh or smile.
Serious-minded is not to be equated with grumpy and downcast. We can have the
joy of the Lord in our hearts and smile and laugh (appropriately) and still be
serious about God and His Word.
We are all to be steadfast (unwavering,
constant) in our faith, reverent (respectful) in our behavior, not slanderers, and
not addicted to strong drink, drugs, or anything else which might cause us to
lose self-control. Self-control has as its basis Holy Spirit control, for
self-control is one of the characteristic traits of the fruit of the Spirit,
which is to be seen (exercised) in our lives, as followers of Christ. We, too,
are all to teach what is good, i.e. what is spiritually healthy and what is God’s
best for us, not the junk that is being passed off as the gospel today which is
intended to appease the flesh and gain customers for big businesses called “church.”
And, all of us are to be submissive to God and, in reverence for God, also to
one another, which includes wives being in submission to their husbands. But,
not one of us should ever submit ourselves to sinning against God.
Be a Model
(vv. 7-10)
Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good
works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that
cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing
evil to say about us. Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in
everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but
showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of
God our Savior.
Too many professing
Christians today make excuses for willful and continuous sin against God,
claiming “I’m not perfect,” but that is a lame excuse, and God doesn’t accept
it. Certainly none of us lives in sinless perfection, though I know some people
claim they do, but all of us should be walking (in lifestyle) according to the
Spirit of God, and not according to our sinful flesh, if we are truly in Christ
by faith in Him. So, in reality, if this is true, we should all be good
examples of what it means to be a believer in Christ and to walk with integrity
(truthfulness, honor, uprightness), which includes admitting wrong and repenting
of sin when one does sin.
Grace of God
(vv. 11-14)
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation
for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and
to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 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.
Too many professing
Christians and non-Christians, alike, are also confusing God’s grace with
libertinism, i.e. the freedom to be “unrestrained by morality and indulging a
variety of amorous impulses” (M-W). They see God’s grace as carte blanche (free
rein) to continue in sinful practices, as though thinking that God’s grace just
covers it all, and that God just looks down on them and smiles when they choose
to keep sinning against him. But, that is not true.
Jesus died that we might die
to sin and live to righteousness; that we might no longer live for ourselves,
but for him who gave his life up for us. His grace instructs us to say “NO!” to
ungodliness and worldly passions (lusts), and to live self-controlled, upright
and godly lives while we await his return. Jesus did not die just to forgive us
our sins, but he died to transform us! When we come to faith in him, we die
with him to sin so that we might live with him to his holiness and
righteousness, for this is why he died! So, give your lives to him today, and
let him have HIS way now in your lives.
Lord, Move Me
/ An Original Work / October 16, 2011
Be my desire, my heart set on
fire,
Lord, move me to worship You
only, I pray.
Fill with Your Spirit, my
heart overflow.
Lord, may I long for You;
Your word to know.
Teach me to walk with You,
Lord, in Your power,
And may I serve You, Lord,
right now in this hour.
Lord, how I want to obey You
forever.
Help me to hear You, Lord, so
I will not stray.
Teach me to love You; adore
You always.
Envelope me, Lord, with Your
grace today.
Meet me in my need, and show
me Your mercy.
Forgive me for all things, as
I humbly pray.
Counsel me, lead me, direct
me, and guide me,
So I follow You, Lord,
where’er You lead now.
I love to hear You speak Your
words to me.
I am so grateful that You set
me free.
Wash me, and cleanse me, and
make me like You, Lord,
And I will live with You for
eternity.
Resources: (Not an
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