Our Daily Scripture – 8/12/22

SCRIPTURE:  TITUS 1

INTRODUCTION:

Titus was a Greek believer taught and nurtured by Paul.  He was  a friend and helper of Paul who traveled with him in his missionary journeys.  He became a responsible leader at the church in Crete.  Paul wrote letter giving Titus instructions on how to teach people the truth of God and how to be a good leader of the church.  He emphasized the importance of good deeds in the life of a Christian.  This book gives us insights into the principles of the organization of a church.  It also guides us on how to train men and women to lead and teach others to become responsible Christians. 

BIBLE VERSES:

“An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.  Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.  Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.  He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” (Titus 1:6-9)

Paul, a servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ wrote this letter to Titus, his true son in faith with blessings of grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

TITUS’  TASK ON CRETE (vs. 5-16)

QUALIFICATIONS OF AN ELDER:

  1. He is blameless.
  2. He is a husband of one wife.
  3. His children are believers of God and obedient.
  4. He must not overbearing.
  5. He is not quick tempered.
  6. He is not given to drunkenness
  7. He is not violent.
  8. He does not pursue dishonest gain.
  9. He is hospitable.
  10. He loves what is good.
  11. His is self-controlled.
  12. He is upright.
  13. He is holy.
  14. He is disciplined.
  15. He holds firmly to sound doctrine and trustworthy message.

Those belong to the circumcision group are rebellious people who are mere talkers and deceivers.  They taught Jewish myths for the sake of dishonest gain.  They are liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons, detestable, disobedient with corruptive minds and unfit for doing anything good.  They are to be silenced and rebuked because they are unfit for doing anything good.

THOUGHTS:

Unqualified people who get into places of leadership in church will cause problem.  That is why Paul set the needed qualifications to choose for the elders in the church.

Local church leaders must be courageous to rebuke or reject false doctrines for the spiritual health of the church.  The church must never compromise on the truth.

The false teachers have defiled minds and conscience that sees nothing as pure.  They adhere to dietary laws and ascetism to make themselves look spiritual.  Moral purity is not a matter of diets.  It concerns a clean heart and a good conscience.