… in every town, as I directed you.
Summary: Paul directs Titus to appoint elders in every town they had been to together. The work that Titus is doing is similar to the work done by Apollos as described in 1 Corinthians 3: 5-8.
Crete is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. As islands go, it is large. When Paul writes to Titus, “in Crete,” he didn’t narrow down the address very far.
The island itself is over 150 miles east to west. At its widest point, it is about twenty miles across as the bird flies. Both numbers are a bit misleading as a travel guide because the shoreline of Crete is winding, and the interior is hilly. There are no straight roads in Crete.
When Paul instructs Titus to “appoint elders in every town,” he has given him a Herculean task. In addition to coastal towns, there are many villages and towns inland in the hill country.
Landing on Crete would be similar to landing on an alien planet. Keep in mind that Titus did not have an iPhone with a maps application to click on. There was no Alexa or Siri to ask for directions. He was on his own, dependent on the locals for support and information.
It seems unlikely that Paul intended for Titus to track down every city and settlement on the island. Titus, having traveled with Paul, would have an understanding of what Paul meant by “every town.” To my ear, it sounds like Paul likely means every town where we started a church. Why would Titus need to appoint elders in towns where there was no church?
If this is the case, then every place that Paul and Titus had been preaching would need to be revisited. Wherever believers were, that is where Titus was supposed to go. Titus was cleaning up the leftovers. He was doing what had been “left unfinished.” His mission was not spreading the gospel at this point, but supporting the gospel where it had already been spread.
This matches the strategy that Paul describes in his first letter to the church at Corinth:
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. (1 Corinthians 3: 5-8)
In the case of Crete, Paul also planted the seed. The watering, however, has been left to Titus to do. We are blessed to have Paul’s letter to Titus to explain what is involved in the watering process.
Application: We all have different roles and responsibilities in the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12: 12-26)
Food for Thought: How would you feel if you were Titus, left behind to do all this “unfinished” work?
If I was Titus, left behind to do the unfinished work, I don’t know how I would feel. Perhaps I would feel overwhelmed at first. Maybe even pull a Jonah and disobey. Saying I can’t, I don’t have it in me and head off in the opposite direction trying to avoid the responsibility and mission given to me. Or maybe I would surprise myself and be like David, trusting in the Lord to lead and protect me and to give me the words and the strength to carry out the task, heading straight into the mission.
One thing I have come to realize over the last few years, any time I am called to do something by God, it usually feels very uncomfortable and undaunting. Yet, as I step out in faith and trust in Him, I have always been provided with what I need to succeed. I may feel like I don’t have the right words or am equipped for the mission, but He always comes through for me.
Darla,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts today! I like the phrase, “Pull a Jonah!” (I confess, I have done that myself… )
Yet, as you point out, our Lord always comes through! Well said!
Another excellent devotion brother. I appreciate the homework you are doing behind the scenes.
I also love and agree with what Darla wrote in reply. It would likely feel like a daunting task that requires a faith response. As we step out in faith, at times it will feel like God is the One who is actually doing the work.
The other hard part for Titus would be finding qualified elders in which the churches were full of believers who were newer to the faith.
Like in all situations in life, if we trust God He will lead us on a straight path (Proverbs 3: 5 – 6).
Rich,
GREAT reference verse!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Trusting God to accomplish things through us is always a challenging task. We don’t know if we are up to what He may be or is calling us to do. If it is truly something He is calling us to then we should be confident He will supply everything we need in order to fulfill what He desires of us. I am certainly very certain that without the Holy Spirit performing virtually everything the mission will not be accomplished. I just need to be in tune work, show up, stay in step and go along for the ride or the flight if He seems to be carrying me along on eagle’s wings.
Jeff and all commenters, I really appreciate your insight through this format. Be Blessed and stay in faith,
Jeffrey,
I appreciate your insights, too! Thank you for joining in. 🙂
I am with Darla on this one too,..overwhelmed for sure,..from the picture the size of the island is pretty large,..a lot of territory to cover, a huge responsibility to carry throughout the land and into the hearts of those that will listen,..did he speak the language of the island or did Titus have to learn how to speak Cretetioneseish? ( A whole new language I don’t know how to spell ).
Did Paul leave Titus letters that were unfinished to be filled in later,..since the work was unfinished were the letters incomplete?
Just some questions that have come to mind is all,..
One thing I have come to know is that I am unfininished and He still has work that needs to be done even if it’s right here in my own neighborhood,..
I have about 20 New Testaments yet to place before I order the next 100,..they are getting into hands and hopefully hearts as well,..because some of the little libraries I have returned to the New Testaments I left before would be gone,..so cool,..and thankful that God has led me to this sort of ministry,..Portland sure isn’t as big as the island of Crete,..but there sure is work to be done here in Portland just like there was and still is in Crete,..
John,
You make me smile! Thank you!! 🙂
You also draw an interesting comparison I hadn’t thought about. A hundred and fifty miles as the crow flies stretches from the coast east past The Dalles. That is a long way!
As you point out, there is plenty of work for everyone in the Garden of the Lord.
How would you feel if you were Titus, left behind to do all this “unfinished” work?
Humbled and Honored, overwhelmed and unqualified. I know we are to allow God to work through us, allow His power to accomplish His work, but I am not even near the level of this man whom Paul left on Crete to build on the foundation he had laid.
Crete at that time was inhabited by a people who were only partially civilized and sunk in the very worst of vices. Paul, tells Titus to speak to them about things that would hardly be mentioned to Christians nowadays while he was instructed to appoint elders in every town.
Titus has an amazing history. A native of the island of Crete, the son of a highly distinguished pagan. Titus was preoccupied by the sciences, led a virtuous life, not devoting himself to the vices and passions characteristic of the majority of pagans, and preserved his virginity.
Prior to his meeting Paul, news reached Crete about the appearance of a Great Prophet in Palestine, and about the great miracles He worked, the governor of the island of Crete (an uncle of Titus) sent him there to observe and report.
This Prophet Jesus Christ Himself. In Jerusalem Titus is said to have seen the Lord, heard His preaching and believed in Him. He witnessed the suffering and death on the Cross, and His glorious Resurrection and Ascension to Heaven.
At a later time, Titus accepted baptism from the Apostle Paul and became his closest disciple. He accompanied Paul on his missionary journeys, fulfilling the tasks entrusted to him. As they were involved in establishing new churches.
He was solidly founded in Christ, knew and was well known by the people of Crete. God had selected and was with the perfect person for this task.
Ron,
Thanks for the additional history. That adds a lot to the discussion!
I think it would be nice to have a clear vision of your ministry. He was probably pretty excited.
Great point Rob. I imagine there was great excitement as well.