I’m trying something new. My pastor posts a daily devotional thoughts most every day on the passages of scripture he is reading. I follow along by reading the same passage in the morning and some time later catching up with his thoughts. Today is the second day in Titus. I don’t know what aspects of the passage he is going to flesh out. Hopefully this will be complimentary to his blog post.
Sound Doctrine Produces Godly Living
Truth about God is called doctrine. Sound doctrine is having true truth about God. False doctrine is when some one says, “This is true about God” and it isn’t. Like when some people in Crete said you had to be circumcised in order to be a follower of Jesus (Titus 1:10). That was a lie and it didn’t lead people closer to God, it actually separated them from God (Titus 1:16). Sound doctrine however causes us to grow in godliness.
So how do you apply sound doctrine to your life?
Submit to authority (Titus 2:2,15; 3:1) – I know it sounds weird to submit. Saying the very word submit brings back memories of playing “mercy” (you may have called it “uncle”) and watching wrestling on TV. Submission, however, is really less about being defeated by someone and more about accepting authority. Submission to godly authority actually protects us from error and helps us to grow in our relationship with Christ. Being under authority is actually a gift from God and we need to be thankful for our pastors and teachers.
As an adult it is easy to see why children really need to submit to their parents. When I discipline my daughter I remind her that God has given her great parents to protect her and guide her as she grows up. The authorities that God has placed in our life have come to bless us and help us grow in godliness.
Learn from those who have gone before (Titus 1:4-5). Older women are to teach the younger women. There is great value in learning from someone who has been where you are and walked with God through it. We don’t have to blaze the trail anew each time we come to a junction in life where we have never tread. It is great to get godly advice and leadership from people who walk close to the Lord and have tread the path before us.
The Grace of God (Titus 1:11-14). God’s grace has a way of transforming us. The power to overcome sin and temptation in our lives flows from the overwhelming nature of God to secure our salvation and draw us near to Himself. We have been considered righteous because of what Christ has done, not a work of our hands. Yet, now what motivates us to give ourselves wholly to Him is that he has given so much for us. We give our all now, not because we could even begin to repay him by our deeds, but because He satisfies. What we have in Christ is so much better than the short-lived pleasures that this world has to offer. We desire for others to know Him and celebrate His goodness.
Application: Sound Doctrine Produces Godly Living… What are you doing to actively live out Truth about God in your life? Who do you submit yourself too? Who are you learning from? How has the grace of God transformed how you live?
What is the hardest part about submitting to others?
What were your thoughts on Titus 2?
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