Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
… 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”
… 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: Slavery is a volatile topic, yet it is an important illustration in Christian life.
Continue reading “Titus 2:9 (a) Part I — Duality”
… so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
Summary: The concept of living what you teach is called integrity. Paul wants those who teach the Word to live to a standard so high that no one can speak ill of them.
Continue reading “Titus 2:8 (b) — Dastardly and Deadly”
Likewise, teach the older women … not to be slanderers …
Summary: In Greek, the word “slander” comes from the root word for “devil.” Slander is a tool for hurting others. Envy and jealousy are two of the motives for hurting others.
Continue reading “Titus 2:3 (b) — The Devil’s Trap”
Teach the older men to be … sound … in endurance.
Summary: The word endurance can refer to something you have done (i.e. – He endured a difficult moment) or it can refer to an ongoing process (i.e. – His endurance kept him going at it day after day). Paul wants us to learn both, but he is talking about the second kind in today’s passage.
Continue reading “Titus 2:2 (h) — Humbled by Gravity”
Teach the older men to be sound … in love …
Summary: Love may be a “many splendored thing,” but it also has many different definitions. In this meditation we look at the kind of love Paul is referring to (agapē) and some examples of what he is not talking about.
Continue reading “Titus 2:2 (g) — A Kind of Love”
Teach the older men to be … sound … in faith
Summary: Faith is a word that has a special meaning for Christians. It describes not only our relationship with an unseen God, it also describes our confidence in God.
Continue reading “Titus 2:2 (f) — Going Up”
You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.
Summary: Paul’s letter to Titus has explained who is qualified to be responsible for teaching “sound doctrine” and who is not. Now Paul turns to what and how to teach.
Continue reading “Titus 2:1 — Milk or Meat?”
They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Summary: Paul has been describing people who should not be leaders in a church. Today’s passage summarizes why this is important to protect the church fellowship.
Continue reading “Titus 1:16 — Satan’s Arrow”