Category: Titus Devotionals

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Titus Devotionals

Because God showed his love and kindness to us

But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:4-5)

“His love for mankind.”

That phrase stuck out to me because in some English translations, it’s just translated “his love.”

But the Greek word there actually refers to a specific love for mankind and is where we get our word “philanthropy” from.

It also struck me because of other things Paul said in this chapter.

Remind them…to be ready for every good work. (Titus 3:1)

I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone. (8)

Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works for pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful. (14)

Why do we do these things? Because God first showed his love and kindness to us.

And so just as he loved us, not just in word but in deed, we are to love others by our deeds as well.

The question God was asking me this morning was, “Do you love the people around you as much as I do?”

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Titus Devotionals

True worship

He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works. (Titus 2:14)

I’ve been thinking the last few days about what people mean when they say, “I love to worship.”

For that matter, what do I mean?

I think for many people, it means, “I feel good when I sing songs to God. I sense his love. I feel so close to him.”

I confess, it’s easy for me to think of worship this way.

But is that all worship is?

Worship recognizes that by his great mercy, Jesus went to the cross for our sins. He did so to cleanse us of our sin and make us his own people, a people eager to do good works, serving him.

We are his now. We belong to him.

And so worshiping God doesn’t just mean singing love songs.

It’s living a life that says, “My life is completely yours. My money. My time. I offer every aspect of my life to you.”

Paul recognized that in Romans 11-12.

Paul sang a song, but it’s notable that it wasn’t just a love song. It was a song which recognized that all things in this world are from God, through him, and to him, and that all glory belongs to him. (Romans 11:36).

And then Paul defines true worship:

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. (Romans 12:1)

When you say that you love to worship, is that what you mean?

Father, help me to love worship. To joyfully offer you all I am and all I have to you, holding nothing back.

It’s only right that I worship you by offering myself to you. For you created me and by your will, I was created and exist (Revelation 4:11).

From you, and through you, and to you are all things. So not just in my songs, but in every aspect of my life, be glorified. In Jesus’ name amen.

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Titus Devotionals

The unlying God

…in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began. (Titus 1:2)

The unlying God.

I suppose “the God who cannot lie,” is a good translation. But somehow, the more “literal” translation rang more in my heart this morning.

It’s the reason I have hope. Because he is the unlying God, what he has promised, he always does.

And that includes the promise of eternal life that he gave before time began.

The promise that found fulfillment in his Son.

I can’t help but think of Simeon’s words in Luke 2.

Now, Master,
you can dismiss your servant in peace,
as you promised.


For my eyes have seen your salvation.
You have prepared it
in the presence of all peoples—
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory to your people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32)

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Titus Devotionals

Remembering grace

Titus

In these volatile times we live in, times of cancel culture, times of twitter wars, times of people talking past each other at best, screaming at each at worst, it can be easy to respond to the people of this world by fighting fire with fire.

But Paul told Titus to remind the believers,

to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. (Titus 3:2)

Why?

For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. (3)

In other words, we were once just like them.

But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. (4-7)

It is so important to remember God’s grace to us. Just as he poured out grace and mercy upon us, we are to do so to the people around us, in hope that they may one day repent and become heirs of eternal life along with us.

And so rather than tearing into people, we are to be dispensers of God’s grace. No less than three times in this chapter, Paul tells us we are to devote ourselves to good works (1, 8, 14).

Specifically in verse 14, he says,

Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works for pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

God has called us to be fruitful in our faith, touching those who are hurting. Slandering, fighting, and tearing others down is not being fruitful.

In Paul’s words, such things are “unprofitable and worthless.” (9)

Is fighting for truth important? Absolutely.

But truth alone will not win a person over. They need to see the love of Christ in us as well.

And the best way to do that is to reach out to them where they have pressing needs.

Grace and truth came through Jesus. (John 1:14, 17).

Grace and truth should flow through us as well.

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Titus Devotionals

Shaped by hope

Titus

As Christians, our lives are to be shaped by hope.

Have you ever considered that?

The apostles did.

For them, hope was not some airy-fairy thing of no practical import to our lives.

Rather, hope itself shaped how they lived.

John talked about it in his first letter. He said,

We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is.

And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)

And here in this letter, Paul essentially says the same thing to Titus.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14, ESV)

What is it that motivates us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives? What motivates us to be zealous for good works?

Hope.

Hope that one day Jesus will return and all things will be made new.

Hope that one day all evil will be wiped out, and that we will become like the one who loves us and redeemed us, choosing us to be his own people.

And unlike a lot of things we “hope for” in life, this hope is certain.

How often do you reflect on the hope we have in Christ? How much does it shape how you think and live each day?