Monday, October
30, 2017
For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to
all people. And we are instructed to
turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom,
righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that
wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be
revealed. He gave his life to free us
from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people,
totally committed to doing good deeds.
Titus 2:11-14(NLT)
Paul
wrote instructions for Titus to share with the believers at Crete. Crete was known as a barbaric culture that
could make our modern day anything
goes thinking look like a refined ladies’ tea party. This was a tough place for Paul’s gentle companion[2],
who had accompanied the apostle on his missionary journeys and been
instrumental in helping the Corinthian churches through their squabbles and
brushes with heresy.
The
apostle reminds Titus of the Gospel in a nutshell with just a few thoughts:
· The grace of God came in Jesus Christ to
reveal salvation
· Our call is to reject godlessness and live
with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion while we keep our hope fixed on
Christ’s coming
· Our commitment is to be total, unselfish, and
result in good deeds to others.
Not
an easy calling to live-out in a culture that teaches selfishness as a virtue.
I
would not exactly be going out on a
limb to say all of us have experienced at least a time or two when
someone either tried, or tried and was successful in taking unfair advantage,
or doing us harm. It could be financial,
reputation-slashing, or even physical harm.
It is beside the point whether we deserved it or not; harm is harm! That stuff happens, and, in Crete it was a
way of life.
Paul
told Titus to swim upstream, climb a steep rock, and do the unthinkable…be full
of grace at all times, no matter how wicked the culture was in Crete. This is the Christian calling; lighting
candles wherever there is darkness, blooming where you’re planted.
I
recall one particular time when that task seemed harder than ever. My career, reputation, and future were at risk
because of a church power struggle. Without
recounting all the details, pointing fingers or defending who said what and
why…I made a conscientious effort to remain calm. It was a rough time, and I would like to say
everything turned out just fine; it didn’t.
Ministry in that place was over for me, and I had to move-on. But the larger picture is what God’s grace
did in the lives of many, including me.
In
the years since that time I’ve had conversation with a number of the people who
were part of that situation and heard much the same story; although the
circumstances were unpleasant and challenged everything about their walk with
Christ, the change that God brought about was something they couldn’t have
imagined.
Navigating
life as a Christian in a culture that overlooks and sometimes even mocks the
cross is not easy; it’s a good thing we have a Navigator who has been through
that water personally!
For You
Today
It
may be that you travelled some rough seas this past weekend, and maybe it’s
still not calm out there; wherever you’re headed this week, make sure your
compass is set on He who is the True
North Star.
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