Titus 1:10

Titus 1:10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.

Truth:

• Paul had some specifics in mind when instructing that elders should instruct and rebuke.
• Various motivations for "teaching what they ought not teach": insubordination, empty talkers, deceivers, shameful gain, devoted to myths, following others who turn away... in some ways, opposite of those qualified to be elder.
• Purpose of the rebuke is that they may be sound in the faith (same purpose as church discipline). Reminds me of Titus 2:15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
  
• Although these instructions are for Titus, I imagine they are intended for the elders as well. Titus is setting up the elders in every town...

Application:

• Pray for the leaders of the church that they would know the Lord and his word well to do this job.
• Are any of these things true in me: insubordination, empty talkers, deceivers, shameful gain, devoted to myths, following others who turn away?
• Know the word. Be sound in the faith.
  

The gospel in Ezekiel

I was just talking to a friend yesterday about the book of Ezekiel, and I mentioned how the prophecy that God spoke through Ezekiel contains some of the most powerful gospel images for me. We read chapters 16 and 36 together, and concentrated on the following verses. I've been meditating on them a bit since then...

36:25-27
"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

36:32
"It is not for your sake that I will act," declares the Lord GOD, "let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel."

Titus 1:5

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Truth:

• Appointing of elders was part of the original plan ("as I directed you"), not an afterthought.
  
• Overseer is God's steward - has authority to take care of things in God's place. As such, he needs to be above reproach (as an example?, to assist in the people's acceptance of them as leaders?, as representing God to the people?)
• Most of these characteristics are true of all believers
• Teaching and rebuking - upholding sound doctrine - comes from holding firm to the trustworthy word.

Application:

• Hold firm to the trustworthy word as it was taught. Know the Bible to know sound doctrine!
• Allow God's power to conform me into a godly man. Pursue righteousness. Don't know how? Keep seeking until you find out. Focus on Christ to become like Christ.
  
• Be a lover of good.
  

Titus 1:4

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

So far, faith and savior have both been mentioned twice (possible themes?). Paul must be thinking about Jesus as Savior... perhaps an insight into the structure of the book - or into what Paul was meditating on lately. What was Paul reading that week?

Should note that the faith intended to be built here is that of the elect. Should meditate more on this... This is written for the elect - in a way, is missions included in the phrase "for the sake of the faith of God's elect" ? I think so, otherwise I could not expect this book to be for me. I am one of the elect - but wasn't visibly converted when this was written. Not sure if Paul was specifically thinking about me (or at least "my" category of future converted), but I imagine God was when he inspired the writing down of the truth in this book. So, it seems like even in writing to and for the elect, it makes sense that missions is assumed - so there will be future generations of elect to benefit from this letter. (Makes you wonder how much Paul knew of his purpose in the broader history of the church... clearly, he knows what he's preaching is the manifestation of ages old truth - so would be relevant to future generations too...).

Titus 1:1

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

Truth:

• Paul's letter is intended to build faith and knowledge
• Knowledge (of truth) "accords" with godliness (what's the correlation? produces? comes along with?)
• God never lies (AMEN!!)
• Eternal life was promised long ago, manifested in Paul's preaching (w/ perfect timing)
  
• Paul is a servant, apostle, and commanded by Jesus to preach the word (re: eternal life)

Application:

• Expect faith and knowledge (and godliness) from reading this letter.
• Read (and live) "in hope of eternal life" - set my mind on things above...
  
• In Paul's letter(s) is an explanation of truth that existed before ages began - be thankful and in awe.

Motivation

Just an FYI... I'm hoping this blog will provide a bit of motivation for my own desire to be in the word. What I need is some option for almost dailyish accountability - even weekly accountability allows me to say "it's been okay" without really being honest in a useful way. By myself, I am weak... with others (or maybe even just the "stats" page) looking on, perhaps I will have some external accountability to do the things I want to do. I like accountability, but am too (I don't know...) prideful, introverted, lonerific, to really make good use of it. And I am not looking for some external shaming to kick me in the pants. I do see this as a help to keep me moving in the direction that I want to be going in.

So, I will use this more like a brief QT journal- to remind myself to think deeply about what I'm reading - at least deeply enough to make some semi-coherent comments. My priority is not to edify others (although I'd be very happy for that to happen) - so feel no pressure to comment on (or even read) what I post. What would be most useful to me if some of you guys took a look every once and a while to see that I'm posting something.

Thanks friends...

Rejoice in This Day

My alarm didn't off this morning, and I woke up an hour later than I wanted to, which is one of those things that just really irks me. I've been in a pissy mood all morning, but God brought this verse to mind:

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

It was a good reminder to me that this day and all that contains is God's, and is good, regardless of when I start it.

The LORD is my portion

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."
-Lamentations 3:24

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
-Psalm 73:25-26

God has been teaching me in the last week or two a bit about what it means for Him to be my portion, something which does not come easy for me. There are two things which really tether me to this temporal existence on earth: my research, and romantic relationships. But God has been gracious to slowly loosen the knots on the tethers that I have tied... I am thankful for grace, and I am thankful for sanctification.