October 31, 2024 - Titus 1-2

“To Titus, my genuine son in a common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior!  The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you” (1:4-5).  “As for you, communicate the behavior that goes with sound teaching” (2:1).  Wives, husbands, young, old, masters, servants . . . Paul addresses the behavior of all sorts of people.  This is not some sort of Pharisaical legalism.  It is not the strict, unbending dharma of Hinduism.  It is good order, good relationships, and just good common sense.  The world has its way of instructing and commanding.  The world has its own goals.  But Paul would have us “to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” ( 2:12-13).  We not only have a way of life, we have a sure hope that will be our joy and happiness when we are with Jesus.

This bless’d and sacred word of God,

Will give the troubled rest,

When publish’d to the world abroad,

Can make all nations blest.

O may that word of truth divine,

With all its bright displays,

In all our hearts with glory shine,

And make us heirs of grace.   --Paul Henkel (1816)