Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ …
Summary: Paul’s words in this passage identify Jesus as God and Savior. These are two parts of what scholars call “the Trinity.” The word is dangerous if it causes someone to think that they understand our God. That would be a bit like an ant claiming to understand Shakespeare.
Continue reading “Titus 2:13 (b) — In The Air”
… while we wait for the blessed hope …
Summary: Waiting for heaven is a bit like waiting at a train station. We are hoping for something that has yet to happen.
Continue reading “Titus 2:13 (a) — Gospel Train”
… in this present age …
Summary: There are limits to what we can know about Paul’s thinking. Yet there are clues in his letter to Titus that give us confidence that his words are still relevant today.
Continue reading “Titus 2:12 (c) — The Age”
… and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives …
Summary: Paul has written about being self-controlled four times. He has also mentioned being upright before. In this passage he introduces the idea of living a godly life.
Continue reading “Titus 2:12 (b) — The Meaning of Godly”
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions …
Summary: Matthew chapter four recounts the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He is sent into the wilderness without food for forty days and nights. What happens next are a series of questions Satan poses to Jesus. These questions help us understand what godly behavior looks like.
Continue reading “Titus 2:12 (a) — Saying “No””
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
Summary: Knowing our Lord and talking about him are two different things. We can do one without the other. However, when we know the Lord and talk about him, the way we talk says as much as the words we use.
Continue reading “Titus 2:11 — Unspeakable Love”
… so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Summary: Marketing is an essential part of any business. A product must be attractive if people are to buy it. God’s appearance to people is seen in how believers act.
Continue reading “Titus 2:10 (c) — Lighthouse”
… but to show that they can be fully trusted …
Summary: We are all slaves to something. Paul says we are slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness. We all need to show that we can be fully trusted.
Continue reading “Titus 2:10 (b) — Division or Unity?”
… and not to steal from them …
Summary: God commanded the Israelites not to steal, but that was a long time ago. Does faith in God still mean we cannot steal?
Continue reading “Titus 2:10 (a) — Works vs Works”
… not to talk back to them …
Summary: Authority in others is a difficult thing for us to accept. Whether legitimate or not, we tend to bridle when told what to do. Yet God’s Word teaches us not to talk back to them.
Continue reading “Titus 2:9 (c) — Footsteps”