We all have to grow up some time, right? Well, at least that’s the hope. In this message, Paul writes to Titus, a pastor serving in Crete. He advises Titus on what to teach the churches. The letter is written to Titus, but it also serves as instructions to the churches and leaders of today.
How do you choose what restaurant you go to eat? Do you choose by the foods you prefer, whether it’s clean and approved by the health department, or how helpful and attentive the staff is to your needs?
With that in mind, what do you look for in a church? Are you looking for a message that tells you what you want to hear? Is what you’re hearing what you want to hear or the message of God. Should it not agree with what the Bible says? We should always look at what we’re told through the lens of the Bible. Nothing you hear should contradict the Word. But, often the message isn’t healthy. It can be misleading . So due diligence is necessary on our part
Paul is letting the church know that he has taught Titus well in the Word of God, an excellent source for them to learn from. In the first 4 verses of chapter 1, he encourages them to live in submission to God and 2, they should sacrifice to others, placing priority on living with the character of God.
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness- a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.
To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Titus 1:1-4
By proclaiming the authority given to Paul, he is investing that same authority to Titus. This originally came from God. Paul’s perspective is based on the hope in eternal life. The cost? Submission to God and sacrificing to the service of others.
Paul places his hope in eternal life. But this hope is not assured to anyone so why is Paul so willing to place the priority on a “hope”? Because eternal life is an promise from God if we submit to him and dedicate service to his divine purpose for us while on this earth.
If we can’t see the future, we must place on the promises that have already been fulfilled. God’s promises are unchanging for the future. They haven’t come to completion yet, but he still has a plan.
That plan is displayed in Christ. His sacrifice on the cross, for us, is what allows us to have that hope. The desire is to live eternally with God. We desire for it to be true.
Expectancy is the hard part – his timing is not our timing!
Promises of God are for us. Promises of comfort, encouragement, strengthening us in our weakness.
Servants of God who know the promises are true and he expects them.
We see time and time again throughout the Bible that the least are the highest, elevated to that position because of their willingness to serve others. Take Jesus at the last supper. He does the lowliest of jobs, cleaning the dusty dirty feet of the apostles, even the one who betrayed him.
You say you’ll do whatever it takes? Will you forgive? For the tenth time?
There is no task that’s below us when it comes to the service of God, because to serve God is menial.
Service to God teaches us about purpose.
- Be the best servant of God you can be.
- Give the credit to Jesus.
- Ricky Bobby says, “if you’re not first, you’re last”. But Jesus says the last is first.
- A Godly leader submits to God because he is holy and worthy – we are not.
- Parents, lead your kids! They are not in charge.
- God is our Savior
- Christ Jesus is our Savior
- The politician says what he/she thinks we want them to say.
- That is not how we should choose who to vote for or how we should choose our church.
- Are politicians truly the servants they want us to be?
- A life transformed is a life that points to God. Submits their thoughts, and actions to God.
- Paul is passing on his legacy or authority to Titus.
Is there someone in your circle who you can pass on your legacy to?
Pray for people. Lift them up.
Who is your one to disciple? Pour into one to be the catalyst.
Promises are kept when the plan is in place.
This has been an awesome series on leadership. We’ll continue with it next week as we look at more of Paul’s letter to Titus. Thanks for reading!
In Faith,
Pam
Where God Leads 