July 3, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

That’s So Attractive

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Opening Prayer

Spirit of the Living God, set me free from fear and doubt and grant me a new joy in serving You and others.

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

“Go out into this world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God” (Phil. 2:15, The Message).

In our society, the secular media will immediately latch on to any missteps of the Church or Christian leaders. When these failures are proven there is some justification to their interest. Unfortunately, often the reporting is inaccurate, maligning all Christians. As this chapter underscores, the behavior of believers should be such that “no one will malign the word of God” (5); “they have nothing bad to say about us” (8); we make “the teaching about God our Savior attractive” (10); and we are “eager to do what is good” (14). Unwarranted accusations will come, but there must be nothing to corroborate them. The consistent testimony of Scripture is that Christians should be judged by the content of their character.

This applies wherever the follower of Jesus is located. Some may feel in more advantageous circumstances than others (respected, older men as opposed to slaves in service), but the challenge remains the same. Paul emphasizes self-control or sound-mindedness in his words to older men, young men and women (2,5,6,12). In a first-century culture that “admired heavy drinkers” (Gordon Fee, see also v. 3) and consequent loss of control, believers are called to distinctiveness. The instruction to different groupings is set in the context of witness and fellowship. How does behavior reflect on the Gospel and how does it affect others? There are relational responsibilities: old women to younger women; younger women to husbands and children; Titus to the younger men; and slaves to their masters. These are examples of our web of relationships, which our behavior will inevitably impact for good or bad. God’s great work is to redeem us for goodness (14).

Apply

Which group do you fall into? What quality that Paul lists for your group really grabs hold of you? Why? What response do you need to make?

Closing prayer

Mighty God, I feel somewhat depressed when I see how far short I fall of what is required of me. Infuse me with the desire to be more like Jesus.

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