Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
… to try to please them …
Summary: Life is full of difficult situations. People are people and without God’s love in their heart they are often unpleasant to be around and serve. Yet it is God’s will that we try to please them.
Continue reading “Titus 2:9 (b) — Serving God”
Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, …
Summary: When Paul says people are to be subject to human authority in “everything,” he is not placing human authority above God. Instead, our submission to human authority is intended to serve God by glorifying him.
Continue reading “Titus 2:9 (a) III — The Line”
Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything …
Summary: Slavery is a volatile topic, yet it is an important illustration in Christian life.
Continue reading “Titus 2:9 (a) Part I — Duality”
In everything set them an example … by doing what is good.
Summary: Today we look at a shift if Paul’s writing; he tells Titus what to be. Telling Titus to be a person who does good leaves us with the question of what does God mean by “good?”
Continue reading “Titus 2:7 (b) — Knife’s Edge”
Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands … so that no one will malign the word of God.
Summary: How are we to understand the word “malign?” Using two pencils and a string, we can make a picture that illustrates both aligned and maligned.
Continue reading “Titus 2:5 (f) — Strung Out”
Then they can urge the younger women… to be … kind …
Summary: Paul’s words challenge us to ask the question: Am I kind?
Continue reading “Titus 2:5 (d) — Maple Syrup”
Then they can urge the younger women… to be … busy at home …
Summary: The world views this passage in a very hostile way, yet a world without homes is a very bleak place indeed.
Continue reading “Titus 2:5 (c) — Building the Future”
Then they can urge the younger women to love their … children
Summary: Paul wants young women to care for their children as God cares for us. The word used in the NIV is “love,” but in this case, it means “caring like a friend.”
Continue reading “Titus 2:4 (b) — The Source of All Knowledge”
Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands …
Summary: The instruction for women to “love their husbands” can be understood and misunderstood. What Paul means is not about romance, it is about friendship.
Continue reading “Titus 2:4 (a) — Roses & Valentines”
Likewise, teach the older women … to teach what is good.
Summary: Paul introduces a simple but profound concept: teach what is good. As easy as it may sound, the successful teacher needs to master the material first.
Continue reading “Titus 2:3 (d) — Teacher”