Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
Remind the people … always to be gentle toward everyone.
Summary: Understanding the context of a verse or passage is critical to understanding the intent of the text. It is important to ask questions about the context as we read through God’s Word.
Continue reading “Titus 3:2 (d) — Who Is Everyone?”
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”
Remind the people … to be peaceable …
Summary: Like many other words in the Bible, the underlying Greek is richer in meaning than one word in English can express.
Continue reading “Titus 3:2 (b) — Hombre”
Remind the people … to slander no one …
Summary: Slander is an untruth that eats at a person’s reputation. Even if the slanderer believes that the lie is true, the damage that follows can never be fully undone.
Continue reading “Titus 3:2 (a) — A Weapon of Voice”
Remind the people … to be ready to do whatever is good …
Summary: The meaning of the word “good” depends on whose point-of-view you are talking about. Worldly good is about pleasing the flesh. Spiritual good is about pleasing God.
Continue reading “Titus 3:1 (d) — Do Good”
Remind the people … to be obedient …
Summary: Obedience is a challenge. There are many people and rules that we are supposed to obey. We now have more rules in our country than any one person can know, let alone obey. Yet our willingness to obey still sets us apart from the worldly.
Continue reading “Titus 3:1 (c) — Stop and Go”
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”
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”
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”