Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
… 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”
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”
Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.
Summary: Young men have their challenges. Separating the spirit from the flesh helps gain perspective on things like cars and testosterone.
Continue reading “Titus 2:6 — Big Block”
Likewise, teach the older women … not to be … addicted to much wine …
Summary: Being nearsighted means we do not always “see” the long term impact of our choices. The word “addicted” has a very technical meaning in our culture. Other translations offer a more general way of looking at this passage.
Continue reading “Titus 2:3 (c) — How Much is Much?”
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 … temperate …
Summary: God made wine. Then he told man to be careful using it. Paul says this is especially important for an overseer.
Continue reading “Titus 2:2 (b) — Clear Minded”
They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.
Summary: “Actions speak louder than words,” is an old saying that is very true. We might think we can hide our motives in our hearts and minds, but God knows our hearts and our actions speak volumes.
Continue reading “Titus 1:16 (a) — The Big Ouch”
In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
Summary: The mind and the conscience are like the steering wheel and the brake on a car. They each have important functions. If they don’t work properly, the car is not safe to drive. The same is true for people.
Continue reading “Titus 1:15 (c) — Wheel and Brake”
… but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure.
Summary: Pure water is rare. Any amount of anything that is not water makes it impure. Like impure water, we cannot makes ourselves pure nor do anything that is pure. Only through Jesus can we be cleansed.
Continue reading “Titus 1:15 (b) — A Drop of Arsenic”