Healthy Living
Opening Prayer
Lord, You are the source of all life and all that is good. I want to live a life in line with You.
Read Titus 2:1-15
[1] You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. [2] Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. [3] Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. [4] Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, [5] to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. [6] Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. [7] In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness [8] and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. [9] Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, [10] and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. [11] For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. [12] It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, [13] while we wait for the blessed hope-the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, [14] who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. [15] These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What stood out most to you from this passage?As you read today’s passage, remember that Paul is writing to Titus in a context where there is teaching that is damaging the church. Again Paul differentiates this teaching from “sound doctrine” (1). In Greek, to be sound is to be healthy.Paul is concerned that the church in Crete should be healthy in what is taught by its leaders (1:9, 2:1), in the faith convictions of those who are respected (2) and in the speech of its young men (8). Women, likewise, are exhorted to maintain specific responsibilities. There are words here directed toward people of different genders, ages and social circumstances (3-6,9,10). For Paul, health is not limited to words, it is seen in actions. It is revealed as Christians say “no” to worldly things and “yes” to God (12). It is illustrated as we wait in hope for the fulfillment of all God’s promises (13). So before we may think we can disregard today’s Bible note, let’s stop and think: What does this mean for me? What might the Lord be saying today about how I live and what I say?
Apply
What are the practical areas of your life in which you need to say no to ungodliness? Journal about this and then act.
Closing prayer
Holy God, help me to live a life that reflects the God I profess and to live it from the heart. I love You.
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