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Titus 3:1-2

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

Personal Challenge

As followers of Christ, we are called to be subject to those who God has put into positions of authority over us, whether we agree with them or not. We are to obey them. We do this because we are not citizens of this world, but citizens of heaven and therefore ambassadors here representing our Father. We are also to be ready to do good works for our Lord, to speak no evil of anyone, to be peaceable, gentle, and humble. This is not always easy, but a worthy goal for us to strive for. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Encouraging Words

We are not expected to live godly, Christian lives on our own accord. It is by the grace of God, bestowed upon all of us, that we are able to experience His salvation and live lives that glorify Him. Through that grace He teaches us how to deny ungodliness and worldly lives He teaches us to live soberly, righteously, and godly even in the midst of a fallen and corrupt world. He gives us the ability to continually look for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, seeking and desiring His redemption. Glory be to God!

Titus 2:9-10

Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

Personal Challenge

We do not have bondservants and masters in most of our lives, so these verses may be a little difficult to understand. We do, however, have situations in our lives where we must be subservient to others. Employees and their employers. Children and parents. Students and teachers. And many more when you really think about it. We can apply this instruction in all of these cases. As Christians striving to be like Christ, we must be obedient to those in authority over us. Be well pleasing in our relationship with them. Do not talk back. Do not pilfer from them. Do all that we do in good fidelity. And why do we do this? So that we can add to the beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Glory be to God!.

Titus 1:1

Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,

Personal Challenge

As modern Americans, steeped in the ideologies of personal freedom and liberties, are we ready to proclaim ourselves as bondservants to God? Are we willing to relinquish that freedom and our liberties in order to serve our heavenly king? This is what we must be willing to do if we truly want tribe followers of Christ, walking in His footsteps, and doing His work. We must choose to let go of the things of this earth in order to grasp the things of God. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner and help me to let go of this world in order to hold on to You!

2 Timothy 4:18

And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Encouraging Words

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Personal Challenge

Paul sets the example for all of us as to what should be our goal in life. It is a goal that has nothing to do with wealth, fame, or even health. Our goal for our entire life should be that we can look back and recognize that we lived our life fighting the good fight of God, that we finished the race that He laid out before us, and that we have kept the faith in Him as our Lord and Savior. Glory be to God!

2 Timothy 4:1-4

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Personal Challenge

For the time will come… I know that throughout history there have been multiple occurrences where these times described here appear to be what this passage was talking about. It seems like that is true again. We are watching unfold before us those who proclaim lies and half-truths as the truth. We see many people believing these lies and even dividing because of them. Many are even active in their churches. We are seeing leaders of our land and our churches abandoning sound doctrine and being corrupt in their actions, pursuing their own desires. Our role in all of this is to be ready to preach the word of God, the real truth and stop embracing the things and practices of this temporal world. We must be ready to convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching, Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!