In The Word
Read: Titus 1
Salutation
1 Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, 3 but at the proper time revealed His word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior;
4 To Titus, my true son in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Qualifications of Elders
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of indecent behavior or rebellion. 7 For the overseer must be beyond reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not overindulging in wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, self-controlled, righteous, holy, disciplined, 9 holding firmly the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.
10 For there are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprimand them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Titus was placed in Crete by Paul to regenerate the church there, appoint godly leadership to guide the people, and correct some improper practices. Some of the church’s issues were because the Cretans were difficult to deal with; Paul affirmed another person’s statement, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12). Additionally, there were people claiming to be godly, but their lives were contrary to the Word, they were creating confusion, and they were leading others astray from belief in Jesus.
Paul makes a powerful statement that those who believe in Jesus are to have “the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness” (Titus 1:1 NIV). Godliness is both what you believe and what you do, as every person’s actions come from what he or she believes. Beliefs come from what you consistently allow into your mind and what you regularly dwell upon with your thoughts. If a lie is allowed to remain in your mind long enough, it will at some point be accepted as the truth. Since what you put into your mind is what will eventually come out through your words and behavior, it is imperative that you put God’s Word into your life daily through Bible study and meditation. Further, you must reject all worldliness and anything contrary to God’s Word from your mind.
Don’t be like the people that Paul described, “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him” (Titus 1:16). Let your behavior be directed by God’s Word.