Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard…
Summary: Peter is about to depart this world and he tells this news to his brothers and sisters in Christ. How would they have felt? How would they respond? These are the questions we wrestle with today.
Continue reading “2 Peter 3:17a Pt II — The Guide”
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Summary: Weddings are an exciting time. They mark a point in life where everything changes. My prayer for the two people getting married today is that this change opens the door to an abundance of blessings from God.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5: 21 — A Marriage Blessing”
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.
Summary: Somehow avoiding people sounds a bit un-Christian. Yet Paul tells us to avoid people who live to argue. Looking at the list of “things to stress” that Paul gave Titus, we can see how this makes sense.
Continue reading “Titus 3:9-10 — Avoidance”
When … God our Savior appeared … he saved us …
Summary: Paul speaks from a godly perspective. If we see his words only from a human perspective, we risk losing everything worth having.
Continue reading “Titus 3:5 (a) — Tortoise and Hare”
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”
Remind the people to be … considerate …
Summary: Being considerate means considering want other people might need or want. The second step is thinking about what we can do for others. The third step is doing it.
Continue reading “Titus 3:2 (c) — Consideration”
Do not let anyone despise you.
Summary: The word “despise” sounds like an emotional response. Yet it can also be an expression of disrespect. Paul’s instruction on this matter requires some thought and perspective.
Continue reading “Titus 2:15 (c) — Superpower”
… eager to do what is good.
Summary: Paul describes what godly living is all about, and the end of his thought is that God’s people are eager to do what is good. The question then becomes, “What is good?” Paul points us to some things that help us define good from God’s perspective instead of our own.
Continue reading “Titus 2:14 (d) — Doing Good”
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”
Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith …
Summary: Some people are more sensitive than others. Some are less sensitive. What we are used to creates an expectation that we often apply to other people. Sometimes this has disastrous results.
Continue reading “Titus 1:13 (b) — My Normal is Your Pain”