Titius 3:9-11 (Day 8)

3:9 - If sound teaching is profitable for everyone, foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the Law . . . are unprofitable and useless. This is a repeated theme in the Pastorals - Titus was to avoid (lit. "Turn away from") such things.
I'm going to have to remember verse 9 when I want to get all up in someone's grill and tell them what's what ; ) Seriously though, I've done this SO MANY TIMES. I couldn't even count. Sunday school was so boring for me I would love to argue with the teacher -- which wasn't hard, the man's idea of how to live out proper theology was warped-- Jesus help me to to "Turn away from" such things.

3:10-11 - The people who advocate for these useless things and thereby exerting a dividing and destroying influence over the church, Paul's instructions were direct and specific. He was to give them two warnings and if that didn't work, he was to have nothing to do with them.
-Paul's thought here is similar to the Lord's instructions when He taught that after giving and offender 3 changes to repent he is then to be cut off.

• Matt 18:15-17  - When a brother sins against a brother - the two of them should discuss the matter in private (Unless you know you clearly did something wrong, it's the person who's been OFFENDED that supposed to bring it to your attention. Don't stress out over mind games - if they have a problem, they need to let you know.) Then bring in 2-3 witnesses for a clear testimony. If that doesn't work, the situation should be brought before THE ENTIRE CHURCH. If he still refuses to acknowledge his sin, he is to be treated as an outsider.
• 2 Thes. 3:14-15 - Special treatment for the idle  . . . the faithful where not to have social contact with them until they repented. This would make the offender feel ashamed so that he would repent. The goal is repentance, not division. However, he is to be treated as a brother, not any enemy. It's not about cutting off all contact, it's about stopping social conduct and connections. It's important to not view this person as an antagonist against yourself and the church, but to wait patiently to admonish him to forsake the error of his ways.

Jesus, also help me deal with people in the best possible way. Help me to make Your standards better and see what the best way to go about this is. What I should I do in the case of (___)? Gosh, it seems so mean, help me to see it from Your point of view. Help me to listen for the Spirit and follow the Scriptures. *Sigh* I don't like this part . . . 

Titus 3:3-8 (Day 7)

3:3 - Paul never forgot the sinful condition from which he and his converts had been salvaged. Foolish, not sensible. Disobedient, instead of submissive. Deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures instead of self-disciplined and ready for every good work. Far from being peaceable, considerate and humble they were characterized by malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 

I made part of that verse pink because I'm going to try to quote it to myself when I would rather sleep than spend time in the Word before heading of to School. It's not that I can't spend time with God at any other point in the day - cause I'm hoping to enjoy and glorify Him all throughout the day - but without the transforming power of the Word of God I don't think I can live the way He wants me to that day. I think I'll miss the mark.

Secondly, I felt God wasn't pleased with the way I had been talking about someone (slander) so I called up the two people whom I had talked to and asked for forgiveness and tried to do it in a way that they might hold me accountable in the future. I feel like the "malice, envy, being hated and hating" part can really fall in line with girls of my peer group. It is so hard to not look at what they have and compare myself to it and become envious or hateful. I'm learning to depend on Jesus to help me be considerate and humble putting them above myself. Yes, even in my social work classes - peaceable. 

• 1 Cor 6:9-11:  ⁹ Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders ¹⁰ nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
• Eph 4:17-24: ¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. ²⁰ You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. ²¹ Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds;²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
• Col 3:5-7: Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.^[a] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Such is the brutish existence of a people apart from God. No matter how they appear to be.
 I liked these verses and wanted to show case them because I think they put things into perspective. The Orange is part of our responsibility: We have to, must, insist on being done with what's involved with sin, what God hates. And the Green shows how it's by Christ that that can all happen. We "put on the new self" when we are renewed in the knowledge of our Creator - aka enlightened by the Holy Spirit as we read the Word. 


3:4 - All of that changed when the kindness and love ("philanthropia" lit. "love for  man") of God our Savior appeared. The contrast is startling: in verse 3, man is the actor. In verses 4-7 man is merely the recipient, and God becomes the actor. What man could not do for himself, God initiated for him.


3:5 - God in His grace saves those who do not believe, not because of any righteousness in them but because of His mercy. 

• The three words "kindness" "love" and "mercy" all represent aspects of God's grace. 
• The Dual means through which He accomplished this salvation are 1) the rebirth spoken of as a washing from the filth of sin and 2) the renewal by the Holy Spirit - the Agent of Regeneration (cf 2 Cor 5:17). - a change in our attitudes and actions.
• No mention of the role of faith because Paul's focus was on what God had done, not human response.

3:6 - God poured out the Holy Spirit on the world generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. Jesus was the Mediator of the Spirit. The language intensionally conjures up images of the day of Pentecost.


3:7 - God's purpose in pouring out the Holy Spirit was so that, having been justified by His grace, believers might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. - The ministry of the Holy Spirit is intimately involved with bring to fruition God's gracious purposes to save. What God in His grace began, God in His grace will see to the end, through His Spirit. 


3:8 - Titus need to stress these things in order to promote godly behavior in his listeners. - Paul was deeply concerned that God's people devote themselves to doing what is good because these things are excellent and profitable for everyone. Titus was to promote good works for they go hand in hand with sound doctrine. 


     Dear Jesus, I ask that you change me through rebirth by washing a way the filth of sin and the patterns it has placed on my life and that You renew me by the Holy Spirit and the reading of Your Word - changing my heart, attitude, and actions. Help me to depend on You for help when the Holy Spirit convicts my heart. We can do this, we're a team :) God I want to thank You for Your plan. For Your gracious view toward us. Thank You for loving us and wanting us to be with You. Jesus, thank You for giving up everything to hold me :) And that I might share what You earned. Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father, STRESS these things in my heart and mind that I may devote myself to doing what is good which is excellent and profitable for everyone and that I may be a good steward of my Master's reputation. And help me to wake up once school starts. Amen.

Start Your Day with God

Leslie Basham: This is Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss for Tuesday, June 8. How do you spend the first part of your day?

(Alarm ringing) 'Aahhh...just five more minutes?'

Nancy's Dad taught her something really important about the first moments of the day. We'll hear about it as she continues in a series called, "Instruction of a Father."

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: 

Now my Dad was, Take God seriously, that Christ is our life. He is not a part of our life. He is life itself.

Ecclesiastes 8:12b says, "It will be well with those who fear God." Fear God--that's the bottom line. He is the one who spoke the universe into being with the power of His word and who holds this universe together with the word of His power. So, how foolish of us to keep God at the fringe of our lives rather than where He rightly belongs, that is at the core.

Now, let me add a second one here and if you've listened to Revive Our Hearts for any length of time, you've heard me say this multiple times before and you will hear me say it multiple times again.

And that is Start your day with God. Start your day with God. It's no secret that the place I learned that was, as a little girl growing up in the DeMoss home, where that was the way of life--where my Dad emphasized, mostly by his example, the importance, the necessity of a daily quiet time.

Now this isn't the substitute for the fact that we walk with God throughout the day, but we need time each day set apart to be in the Word, listening to God, and then responding to Him in prayer and praise.

This is what gives wisdom, perspective, direction for all the rest of life. I watch so many women today, women my age, older, and younger, who are living these frustrated, frazzled, frenzied lives which I fall into myself all too often and I believe more often than not a core reason is because we haven't stopped to center our lives on Christ.

So people say, "I don't have time to read my Bible. I don't have time to have a quiet hour or a holy hour with the Lord." Listen, choose your priorities for your life and then build your life around those priorities.

I would say this especially to you younger women, I'm talking to all of us, but especially you women who are developing habits now early in your life, start those habits now. I'll tell you this, "It will never be easier than it is now."

You may be a student thinking, I've got 8:00 o'clock classes every morning; there's no way I can start my day with the Lord! When I get through these exams, when I get through this degree...

Listen, when you get through that degree, you're going to have a j-o-b, hopefully or you're going to be married, you're going to have a husband and then you're going to have children and you'll never have an uninterrupted five minutes for the next ten or more years of your life.

You'll say, "Boy, life was so simple when I was a student, if I could just go back I could order my days around biblical and godly priorities."

I want to tell you, every season of life, no matter how old or young you are, there will be something that will conspire to keep you from having a daily devotional life.

I wrestle with this almost every day of my life. Now, that may surprise you and some of you may think, She teaches the Bible every day, this is easy for her! I'm telling you, I get in my quiet time chair and all of a sudden I'm thinking of fifty-seven things I have to do. I get a new burden for housecleaning. I mean, it's incredible what things come to my mind when I set apart that time to meet with the Lord. It's hard because Satan knows that if he can get me distracted and derailed there, he's going to throw my day and my life off kilter.

There are so many passages in the scripture that talk about the importance of seeking God early. 

• "My voice you shall hear in the morning, O Lord, in the morning I will direct it to you." (Psalm 5:3).
• Psalm 143:8a, "Cause me to hear your lovingkindness in the morning."
• Isaiah 50:4b, "The sovereign Lord wakens Me morning by morning, He wakens my ear to listen like one being taught."
• Then Proverbs 8 talks about it and wisdom is actually speaking and she says, "Now listen to me. Blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise and do not neglect it."
• Then wisdom says, "Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates." (Prov. 8:32-34a) How often? "Every day, waiting beside my doors."
• Joshua 1, Psalm 1--verses that tell us that if we meditate on the law of the Lord day and night that we will be successful in everything that we do.
• Then James tells us that we need to receive with meekness the implanted Word, not just reading the Word, but having a humble heart as we read it, receiving it because it's able to save our souls, it's able to sanctify us. James goes on to say, "So don't just be hearers of the Word, don't just listen, do what it says" [James 1:2 paraphrased]. Receive with meekness, submit yourself to the authority of the Word of God.

My Dad had a high view of Scripture and it was symbolized by the fact that he would never put anything on top of his Bible. Now, it wasn't that he worshiped the piece of leather here and the paper and ink, but he reverenced the Word of God.

I've made this a habit in my own life just symbolically because I want to demonstrate to myself and to others that the Word of God is supreme. I don't put other books on top of the Bible. I try not to put papers and things on top of the Bible; I want the Bible on top of everything else in my life but not only physically.

I want to listen to it and I want to challenge you to listen to the Word. When you do, whether it's in public reading of the Scripture from the pulpit or you're reading it privately, listen carefully.

I love the fact that in the church I attend we stand for the reading of the Word of God. Reverence the Word of God. Submit to it in your heart. Don't sit in judgment of the Word. Let it sit in judgment of you.

And let it be the authority in your life, in every area of your life whether it's your work habits, your sleep habits, your eating habits, your marriage, your parenting, your dealing with struggles and issues in your life, sinful bondages, how you deal with people, how you deal with money, how you deal with time.

Let the Word of God be that which gives you direction and wisdom and then take the direction and wisdom that it gives. Let the Word of God mold you and shape you and convict you and change you. We are sanctified by the truth. Jesus said in John 17:17b, "Your word is truth."

As you start your day with God and then continue your day, meditating on the Word of God, making it a part of the warp and woof of your life, you will have blessing, you will have success, you will find wisdom, you will gain intimacy with God.

And you will discover and experience through all of your life, the purpose for which God created you. And you'll be able to fulfill that purpose because you've been filled with the Word of God.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Let me encourage you even in this moment not to just be a hearer of the Word but to be a doer. I wonder how many of you would say honestly, "The Word isn't a central habit in my life. I don't have a consistent time of being in the Word, reading, studying, meditating."

Can I say, "It's not too late to start? Start today. Start tomorrow morning. But make a determination in your heart that you will order your life around the priority of God's Word; the number one thing in your life will be getting to know God."

We can't do that without steady, consistent, faithful, regular intake of God's Word into your mind and your heart and your life.

Father, I pray that there would be many, many women listening today who would make that commitment and would say, "Starting today, starting tomorrow, I want to start my day with God. I'll reorder other things in my life. I'll make them fit around my relationship with God rather than trying to squeeze my relationship with God into an already overcrowded schedule." So Lord, make it so, may it be so I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Titus 2:15-3:2 (Day 6)

Titus 2:15-3:2 (New International Version 1984, ©1984)

 ¹⁵ These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

Titus 3

Doing What Is Good

 ¹ Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, ² to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

The Gracious behavior that results from Grace

2:15 - Like Timothy, Titus was told to step out aggressively in his public ministry, encouraging those who were doing well, rebuking those who needed to be corrected, being intimidated by no one.

I struggle with this a lot. Even thinking about Paul preaching in Acts. What's the right balance? Can I preach boldly like that? Do I have the proper authority? I don't know. I don't think so because there's so many areas I still need to change in. I think I'll focus on letting my life do the talking but pray that when there is a time for it, God will give me the right words to say (Matt 10:19).

3:1-2 - A large part of any pastor's ministry is reminding the people of what they already know (Phil 3:1).

• Titus was to remind Christians in Crete to be good citizens within their communities - a virtue in which Cretans were notoriously deficient. 
• This behavior will adorn the gospel and make it attractive to others. 

This falls inline with what Paul wrote earlier in not wanting younger women to malign the Word of God. I think we as Christians must very much underestimate how our example could lead people to Christ and could drive them away forever. This was a big deal to Paul, and it's an even bigger one with God. I don't want to be the cause of anyone not wanting to be a Christian. Jesus, please help me to see the seriousness of this. Help me to change and live my life is such a way that I make Your story attractive.

What's Expected of Christian Citizens

1. To be subject to rulers and authorities
2. To be obedient
3. To be reading to do whatever is good
4. To slander no one
5. To be peaceable
6. Considerate
7. and to show true humility toward all men

• A Christian citizen should be an influence for good in the community in every way, demonstrating the loveliness of Christ to all through courteous and gracious behavior. 
• This is precisely the lifestyle that results from understanding God's grace. ie. the instructions in Titus 2:15-3:2 must be seen as concrete examples of the behavior required of one who understands God's grace. 

Ready to do whatever is good - slander no one - peaceable - considerate - showing true humility toward all men. Let me just say that I struggle greatly with these. I want to demonstrate the loveliness of Christ, through courteous and gracious behavior. Jesus, help me to understand Your grace so that this is more of an outflowing of Your Spirit than me have to strive to live up to them. I think I struggle with this the most in my Social Work classes. A lot of their beliefs are so far from mine and it seems like the best way to handle it is to be big and bad so people hear your voice and know you're serious. That way they know they can't walk all over you if you have a different opinion. Jesus, help me to show these things in my social work classes. I think I'll write this verse on the inside of my journal and read it before each class. I pray that You'll work in me and help me to truly make You look attractive in my thoughts, opinions and actions. I want You to be what they see and that's not going to happen if I'm acting, talking and looking like the rest of the world. Jesus, thank You for Your Word. I pray that it continues to change me and that I continue to make it a priority once school starts next week. Thank You, God. Amen.

Titus 2:11-14 (Day 5)

Titus 2:11-14 (New International Version 1984, ©1984)

 ¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 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 glorious appearing 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.

The Educating Power of Grace


2:11- "For" (gar) suggests that here is the theological foundation for what the apostle had just written. When fully understood, it is the grace of God that teaches men how to live. "Brought to all men" = His grace is universally applicable. 


2:12 - The message of God's grace, when its full implications are seen, leads Christians, negatively, to say "No" to ungodliness and worldy passions (cf Heb 11:24-26), and positively, to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age. -- All the specific instructions of Titus 2:1-10 can fit into these two negative and positive categories. --
-Faith chooses between the attractive but temporary pleasures of sing and the prospect of disgrace for the sake of Christ because, like Moses, it sees the reward (Heb 11:24-26 Comm.)
I feel like this definitely falls in line with the "reverent lives" older women are supposed to live and how when younger women live as they ought, no one can "malign the Word of God" because they have been good stewards of His reputation. 
Our love for Him should drive us to want to know more about Him, to get closer to Him. This happens by reading His Word because not only is the Word - Jesus. But also because His Son is the primary way God has chosen to speak to us today (Hebrews 1:2). The Word will renew our minds and transform our hearts. By reading Him and being enlighted by the Holy Spirit, our hearts soften because of Him and our ears are more atuned to hear His voice. Then, when the Holy Spirit convicts us, we can say "No to ungodliness and wordly passioins" and in turn become more like Christ, taking more and more power away from the Enemy. 


2:13-14 - The gospel of grace affects one's present behavior, on the one hand, by focusing on God's unmerited favor in the past (Matt 18:23-35 for how this should work). But the Gospel also promotes godly living by focusing on the future. Christians look forward to the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God ad Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Tim 4:8). 

• It is crucial, moreover, that this One whom Christians look forward to meeting is the same One who gave Himself to redeem us ("set free by payment of a price") us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good. A holy people was His purpose for the cross.
• Therefore knowing all that Christ has done and why He did it, Christians who truly love Christ and look forward to His return will pay any price to bring their lives into conformity with their beloved Lord's will, so He's not disappointed when He returns. 
• John wrote of this saying "Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:3). A full understanding of these things leads inexorably to godly living. Conversely, ungodly living in a Christian is a clear sign that either he does not fully understand these things or does not actually believe them. 

     O Lord my God, please reveal to me the gospel of Your grace. There is so much that I don't understand and can't wrap my head around. Jesus, help me to obey as You teach me how to say "no" to the things of this world, that are contrary to You and Who You are. Help me to live a godly, upright, holy life so You can make me the Morgan You dreamed of. So I can be long to that holy people You desire to make Your own, fully Yours, eager to do what is good in Your eyes. Help me, Lord. I need You so much. Amen.

Titus 2:1-10 (Day 4)

Godly Behavior

2:1 You should actually be "As for you" Titus teach what is in accord with sound doctrine, "Healthy Teaching."

2:2 - Older Men
Characteristics of Maturity:

• Temperate - "Well-Balanced" 
• Worthy of respect "Serious-minded" ie not clowns
• Self-controlled

Marks of Godliness

• Faith
• Love
• Endurance - closely aligned with "hope" especially for those who have lived  long lives. 

2:3 - Older Women
Behave Reverently

• Not to be Slanders (1 Tim 3:11) - the verb slander comes from the noun "devil" the chief of slanders. 
• Not addicted to much wine (1 Tim 3:8)

- Both were real possibilities for women whose families were grown and have have had too much idle time on their hands (cf 1 Tim 5:13-15).

Develop a Ministry of teaching Younger Women 
What is good. Younger women with children were to keep their primary focus at home, but the older women would do well to reach outside their homes and share what they had learned with those who would profit from it most.
By setting an example, young women can imitate and get advice from strong, Christ-like women. I have been extremely blessed in this area: God sent me Mrs. Simpson. Throughout my older teenage years, through dating Nathan, entering into marriage and being a married woman, Mrs. S has been there for me 100%! Every phone call, every conversation, every word of understanding and each time she listened to me has been so valuable I will never forget it. Sometimes the conversation would reach 3 hours, I remember one week I called her close to every day. While preparing for the wedding, she would take me to McDonald's every Thursday and we would talk, bible study and pray. I have learned SO much from her and even the fact that I had someone to help me through some of the darkest times in my life and be there for all the others has made a tremendous difference and I don't ever want to think about where I would be without her. I pray that God blesses her for all she's done for me - not only that, but she was kind, gracious, considerate and trustworthy every time. She never made me feel like I was a burden to her and with her personal stories of life experience I could cope and later rejoice in my situation. I pray that every girl has a woman like her in their lives, and that I can one day be that woman for someone else. 


* Green = Jeremiah Bolich
2:4-5 - Younger Women
The proper priorities for a young wife and mother:

• Lovers of their hubbys! - Love = "Phileo" neighborly love ie - as yourself.
• Lovers of their children - Love = ""
• Self-controlled - Not as in Galatians 5:23 but "Sober-minded. Fixed, focused, dwelling upon Christ."
• Pure - "hogious" = holy/sacred. Same world for the the instruments in God's temple = we are for His use only!
• Busy at home "domestic" - Wherever God has you, be productive.
• Kind - Distinguishable among others = Set-apart.
• Subject to their husbands - to a man who "Looks like Jesus." You do not want to be marred to a man who treats you less that Jesus would treat you. Like He treated the Church. 

If Christian wives and mothers can be sure that if they value what the Lord values he will ultimately vindicate both His Word and those who are faithful to it.

I just finished a study on Proverbs 31 through Revive our Hearts and I think that everything mentioned her can be produced when Fear of the Lord is involved. When reading God's Word we develop a deeper and deeper sense of awe for God that allows us to live in greater reverence to Him. As we read the Word and are convicted by the Spirit, Jesus can change our hearts and that will flow through to our actions. O Jesus, I pray this will happen in my life. May it be true of me!

2:6-8 - Younger Men 

• Self-Controlled - Not Gal 5 = "Sober-minded fixed, focused, dwelling upon Jesus (like he would a football game).
• "Show himself" an example to all in every good work (cf 1 Tim 4:15-16 watching your private life and your public ministry closely). -Hold out in:
• Integrity - Character. Reputation. Trust worthy. ("That's not my husband" Ex of a wife being told that her husband was at a bar with another woman.)
• Seriousness - "Gravity" in Greek. Sustenance : What I say is what I mean. Doesn't just say what you want to hear. 
• Soundness of speech that cannot be condemned. - Clear in your speech 1) speaks in a way that he knows how to communicate with his wife. In a way she understands. 2) Vulgarity and Profanity = Gross and unintelligent "Aww, are you retarded?"
• Good (all of it) Parable of the Sower - Good Soil: Everyone planted in his life is effected by his relationship with Jesus Christ. They are changed. Closer to Jesus because of his walk with Him.

So as to not provide opposing forces with ammunition for their attacks.

This list may seem overwhelming - and you may not be able to even think of a guy who fits this description. When I read this message (probably 16) I felt the same kind of hopelessness. Don't limit God! He's so big and great sometimes I think He gets tired of the box we put Him in because He wants to wow us! O how He's done that for me. I had in my mind and heart what I wanted and God had to brake that - seriously, one of the most painful times in my life (Thank God for Mrs. S!). I had resolved myself to think I might get married at 40 if I was lucky. About a month later He brought Nathan into my life. I wish I could describe to you what this has meant for my life. You should read about the 47 things I love about Nathan on areidlybeginning.blogspot.com ; ) 


I am daily thankful for Nathan in my life; how God has blessed me and how Nate goes above and beyond my expectations for a good husband: he loves Jesus, has enormous integrity and has a persistent resolve to do what is right. He understands me so well and makes every effort to communicate with me. Yesterday, while driving, I told him that I felt like he was playing a certain computer game too much and when he asked me what he could do differently, I told him that I was probably just being too jealous and making it to big of a deal. He persisted and said "No, I can't have my wife being discontent. I thrive on you feeling loved and happy. What can I do?" Man, my heart melted all over again. I told him that if every woman was married to a guy like him, there'd be no such thing as divorce. 


I'm not sure how much he's effected others, but I have heard stories that he wouldn't share with me - so modest - from family and friends that leave me feeling blown away. And I know he has changed me. I am so much better of a person and closer to Christ because of him. He truly shows me Jesus.

*Self-control was present in all four groups: Showing the importance of moderation, sensibleness, and self-restrain for all Christians.

2:9-10 - Slaves
As a significant part of the congregation Christians who found themselves serving others were to

• Be subject to their masters in everything
• Try to please them
• Not to talk back to them
• Not to steal from them
• Show that they can be fully trusted

-From the world's perspective a slave should not owe any of these things to his master, but from a Christian's perspective, a Christian slave is not working for his earthly master, but the Lord who will vindicate him in the end (Col 3:23-24).
-In the meantime he was to avoid giving offense, and must concentrate on following Chris' example in every way (1 Peter 2:18-25). In this way his life will prove to be an adornment to the teaching about God our savior.

I think this is applicable to our situations with work or teachers as well. The Bible is very clear on how we are to respect authority - which is why I took off any groups or pages that felt disrespected Obama as a person. I disagree with his politics, but I need to respect him as a man God is allowing to remain in authority over us.

A believer's behavior should be in accord with or befitting sound doctrine.

Titus 1:10-16 (Day 3)

*I wanted to mention 1st, that as I type it is 6:03 in the morning! I've been praying that God would help me get up when it was necessary (at least till school starts). We have to be out of the house today at 8:30 so I was HOPING to get up at 7. Well, I couldn't sleep anymore, looked at my clock and it said 5:13 a.m. I even tried to lay there but I had to pee SO bad. by 5:22 my Bible was open and I was in Titus. Now granted, I had to remain obedient by not going back to bed (and to get to bed by 10), but the Lord was faithful to get me up. Hopefully, it will become a habit soon and won't be such a pain - I really love my sleep.*

Titus 1:10-16 (New International Version, ©2010)

Rebuking Those Who Fail to Do Good

 ¹⁰ For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. ¹¹ They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.¹² One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”^[a] 13 This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith ¹⁴ and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth. ¹⁵ To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. ¹⁶ They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

1:10 - 3 Characteristics of those who oppose the truth: 1) rebellious, 2) mere talkers 3) deceivers. All 3 were present in Timothy's opponents, but in Crete Titus had to deal with a Jewish element (the circumcision group) in whom these characteristics stood out prominently. 

1:11 - These false teachers must be silenced because of the damage they were doing to families in the congregation. They had to teach certain things or they would be excommunicated - their motive? Dishonest gain caused them to destroy lives. 

Honestly, I've seen this happen numerous times. And the gain isn't aways money, sometimes it's control. When leaders of the church use their power and position to work things the way they want it peoples lives really do fall apart. It's heartbreaking and horrible. And that's just how I feel - I can't imagine God's stance . . . 

1:12 - The quote originated from the lie that Zeus died in Crete. By Paul's day it was just a general reputation for the Cretans. The verb kretizo was invented to mean "to lie" which shows the general understanding of the Cretan people. 

1:13-14 - "This is true" the false teachers fit the stereotype of the Cretans. Titus was to "rebuke them sharply so that they will be sound ("healthy") in the faith." The ultimate goal in discipline is to recover the pone who is in error. 

1:15-16 - Paul was trying to bring to light the Jewish influences of rules about eating, drinking and purification (Col 2:20-23). 

• Paul had to remind his readers about what Jesus thought of these things: purification is largely a matter of the internal rather than the external (Mark 7:15; Luke 11:39-41).  
• "Nothing outside can corrupt one how is internally pure; but someone who is internally impure corrupts all he touches." The minds and consciences of the false teachers were impure. So though they claimed to know God, their corrupt actions showed their true natures (1 John 2:4).
• Their impure interiors rendered them externally detestable ("abominable") to God, disobedient, and unfit ("disapproved") for doing anything good (2 Tim 3:17). Paul connected their theological error with moral deficiency. 

     Dear Jesus, I pray that You will create in me a clean and pure heart that beats for You. Father, I ask that by renewing my mind through Your Word, You can transform my mind, will, and emotions, making me more like You. Help me to help people in the church without the pursuit of dishonest gain - not for myself but for You. Help me to rebuke people when it needs to be done in the way way it should be done. Give me a love for Your Word that defines my life. Help me to have Your Name on my lips when I wake up and give my heart instruction as I sleep. You are wonderful, You are faithful, and Your goodness to me is so deep I can't wrap my head around it. Jesus, help me to love You first, and help me to love others in the way that You did. Change me moment by moment and help me to be the Morgan You dreamed of. Amen.