LIVING WITH IMPERFECTION
Opening Prayer
As I read, Father, help me to discern your will for me today. Show me how to serve you in ways that make a difference in the lives of others.
Read TITUS 2:1–10
Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel
2 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.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Listen to the song ‘Father, Let your Kingdom Come’ by Porter’s Gate* or simply meditate on ‘Alleluia—Father, let your kingdom come’.This new group of Christians in Crete inhabited a world less than favorable for growth in their faith. Recognizing the limitations of a given situation may make us behave in ways that are less than our preferred set of actions. We say things like, ‘Well, this is the best we can do under the given circumstances.’ Despite this human tendency, Paul’s words listed uncompromising requirements in the behavior of these believers.
His words suggest that such reasoning was not a valid way of thinking for those who had realized what the saving work was that God had done for them. Actions must point to that grace and love of God at work in their lives. We, like all other believers, become partners with God in his work on earth because we have experienced the overflowing love of God towards us (vv. 4–7). Our attitude and example-setting behavior toward those closest to us must witness to this reality.
Was Paul asking for perfection? Surely that’s not real life! But the reality is that it is only in community that we truly find ourselves. Community makes or breaks us! All the more reason that this distinct community of people, with a particular identity and flavor, should exhibit qualities of respect, self-control, integrity, and soundness in faith and love.
Apply
Spend time in quiet before God, inviting the Holy Spirit to continue his work of transformation in your life.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for the family and community of faith you have given me. Help me today to express your grace and mercy in meaningful ways.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
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