We’ve been looking at the little epistle to Titus, asking how we can get and stay spiritually healthy. Let’s summarize what we have seen:
Knowing who we are in Christ and having a clear sense of our purpose in life is the beginning. We also must have confidence in the character of God and a commitment to communicating the truth about Him to others (Ch. 1). We also learn from chapter 1 that we need spiritual leaders in our churches who meet certain criteria — and we are to co-operate with them as they lead us in serving the Lord! Chapter 1 also taught us that we are to avoid spiritually negative influences (false teachers). Such deceptive, disruptive people need to be rebuked by God’s leaders.
Chapter 2 of Titus gives specific guidance to several groups of believers if they wish to be “sound” in the faith. Behaving ourselves will minimize criticism from outsiders and will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. Chapter 2 also teaches about God’s saving, teaching, waiting, purifying, and encouraging grace. Which I need. And I suspect you do too.
How we treat others is one theme in chapter 3. We are to be subject to authorities and not be grouchy Christians! We are also reminded in chapter 3 of our B.C. condition (before conversion) — and it quite humbling! We further learn in chapter 3 that we are to avoid certain topics and people — for such arguments are wasting our precious time on planet earth! And in our last post, we learned that we need our co-workers’ companionship as we do the work of the Lord.
I want to be spiritually sound and healthy. And I’m sure you do too. What is required of us is that we take specific steps (illustrated here in Titus) to move in that direction. As one radio preacher used to put it, “Lord, may we grow in grace that we may not groan in disgrace!” Amen.
Friends: I just did a 40 minute webinar with my son Brian on “Seven Mistakes Writers Make.” You can see it below!