Titus 1:12, "The people of Crete are all liars; they are cruel animals and lazy gluttons." These are the people that Paul is calling to a higher purpose. He is calling on Titus to "rebuke them sternly, so that they will become strong in their faith". When I started reading the mega themes in the beginning of Titus, this is what they said, "Paul calls for church order and right living on an island known for laziness, gluttony, lying, and evil. The Christians are to be self disciplined as individuals, and they must be orderly as people who form one body, the church. We need to obey this message in our day when discipline is not respected or rewarded by our society...Our service won't save us, but we are saved to serve. As Christian's, we must have commitment and discipline to serve...Qualities needed for leadership: Their conduct in their homes revealed their fitness for service in the church..You must have self-control, spiritual and moral fitness, and Christian character. Right living and right relationships go along with right doctrine. Christians must be good citizens in society, not just in church."
Do you stand out in your ethics? Do people see you and know that there is something different about you? You can very easily take away the name of Crete and place any town's name in its place. I have heard this very same description about the people who live right here. How many times has there been a complaint made about "not being able to find a job." Yet, how many times do you hear a carpenter say that he cannot find anyone to show up at his job site; he would employ anyone, if they would just show up. "The people are liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons." You can very easily say this today, nothing has really changed. We are called to a higher standard. We are Christ followers; He was none of these things. We are to be an example to others. We should be different. Are we? We are supposed to have a new life in Christ. Do we?
Titus 2, "The older men are to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have strong faith and be filled with love and patience...The older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to take care of their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husband...We are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasure. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God."
I have been more saddened by how "Christians" are living their lives. Many older men are not exercising self-control; they are not worthy of respect; they do not live wisely. Most older women are not training the younger women to love their husbands and their children. If anything the younger women have been taught to disrespect their husbands and to think of themselves, before their families. Our people have bought the lies, "if it feels good, then do it; If you don't want to then, you don't have too."
What is going on!! Do you act any different than anyone else? When you are in the store; are you complaining right alone with the other customers, or are you offering your encouragement to the cashier? Are you honoring your word? Are you showing up and doing your best on the job? Can your boss count on you? We have to constantly be asking ourselves these kind of questions. We are not perfect, no one is; but are we different? If you are older, are you stepping up and helping the younger generation. Younger men and women: are you being a good example by doing good deeds of every kind. Do you have integrity? Do you stand out in your crowd?
I am constantly checking my behavior, I have too. I have lived with a contaminated reputation. I know what it feels like to have a ruined name. When we are professing to be Christians, but living as the world; it is not our reputation at sake; it is not our name we are abusing, it is His. If we are tarnishing His reputation, then how are others going to be saved. No one will listen to someone with a failed reputation. Our mission is to help others find salvation. How are we going to do that, if we cannot conduct ourselves respectfully?
Titus 3:3-8, "Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were mislead by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. We hated others, and they hated us.
But then God our Savior showed us His kindness and love. He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did. He declared us not guilty because of His great kindness..I want you to listen so that everyone who trusts in God will be careful to do good deeds all the time. These things are good and beneficial for everyone."
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