Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
Remind the people … to be obedient …
Summary: Obedience is a challenge. There are many people and rules that we are supposed to obey. We now have more rules in our country than any one person can know, let alone obey. Yet our willingness to obey still sets us apart from the worldly.
Continue reading “Titus 3:1 (c) — Stop and Go”
Remind the people … to be subject to rulers and authorities …
Summary: Being subject to authority is a common topic in the Bible. It seems unfair that we would have to serve an ungodly ruler. Yet this world is not all there is. We need to serve God and trust in his eternal plan.
Continue reading “Titus 3:1 (b) — Rulers and Authorities”
Remind the people …
Summary: Paul understands a basic truth about people: Our memories leak! To help, he gives Titus a list of things to remind people about.
Continue reading “Titus 3:1 (a) — Leaky Buckets”
Do not let anyone despise you.
Summary: The word “despise” sounds like an emotional response. Yet it can also be an expression of disrespect. Paul’s instruction on this matter requires some thought and perspective.
Continue reading “Titus 2:15 (c) — Superpower”
Encourage and rebuke with all authority.
Summary: The word “encouragement” is often translated as “exhort.” The word rebuke is almost always the same. Both are two sides of the same coin. How and when they are applied depends on the authority in the moment.
Continue reading “Titus 2:15 (b) — All Authority”
These, then, are the things you should teach.
Summary: Who is Paul saying should “teach?” The kind of things Paul is talking about can be taught by example.
Continue reading “Titus 2:15 (a) — Syllabus”
… eager to do what is good.
Summary: Paul describes what godly living is all about, and the end of his thought is that God’s people are eager to do what is good. The question then becomes, “What is good?” Paul points us to some things that help us define good from God’s perspective instead of our own.
Continue reading “Titus 2:14 (d) — Doing Good”
… and to purify for himself a people that are his very own …
Summary: Learning to live for God is a purifying process. We give up what is ungodly and embrace what is godly. Having paid the price for our redemption, God changes us into people who are his very own.
Continue reading “Titus 2:14 (c) — The Keys of Heaven”
… to redeem us from all wickedness …
Summary: Being redeemed is not like snapping your fingers. It is a process. There is a payment to be made, and then there is a collection process. Eventually we see our Redeemer face to face. At that point we have been redeemed.
Continue reading “Titus 2:14 (b) — Up and Down”
[Jesus Christ,] who gave himself for us …
Summary: The story of our salvation is amazing. Our part is rather sad and embarrassing. The exciting part is provided by God’s Son, Jesus Christ. He left heaven to become a man, live a good life, and then allowed mankind to take that life away from him. Under the law, he now has the right to take our lives, but instead, he gives us life.
Continue reading “Titus 2:14 (a) — The Eyes of God”