Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
At one time we too were … enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.
Summary: The road to freedom is a beautiful adventure. The end of the road is the beginning of a new life in heaven. Meanwhile, here on earth, we can be free of the shackles of the desires of the flesh.
Continue reading “Titus 3:3 (e) — The Road to Freedom”
At one time we too were … deceived …
Summary: Being a demon is hard work. You cannot force people to leave God’s Light, you have to tempt them. Fortunately for the demons, their work is made easier when we turn our back on God.
Continue reading “Titus 3:3 (d) — Going Astray”
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”
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”
… 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”
… 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”
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 be self-controlled …
Summary: We visit the topic of self-control again. This time we look at our dual nature: part spiritual, part physical. Understanding this has everything to do with self-control.
Continue reading “Titus 2:5 (a) — Wedding Clothes”