Today we turn to the Apostle Paul’s letter to Titus. Titus was another of Paul’s students or apprentices, who eventually became a pastor and leader in his own right. Paul called Titus his “son in the faith” as he did with Timothy. Paul offers us an important principle as we read through his “pastoral” letters: Equip those in following generations so the gospel will grow, and God’s Kingdom will expand. This principle of multiplication was taught by Jesus and carried out effectively by Paul.
In Titus 1, Paul greets Titus and gets to “business” rather quickly by reminding him Paul had left him in Crete to appoint elders in the various towns. He offered a list of characteristics needed by elders, which is similar to the list he offered Timothy. After this, Paul reminded Titus of the dangers to the process posed by false leaders, and particularly those of the “circumcision party,” or the Judaizers whom we have come to know through Paul’s ministry as recorded in Acts, and in his other letters.
In Titus 2, Paul offers Titus some specific teaching regarding how he was to train older men and women. Paul told Titus to have the older women train the younger women, while he was to train the younger men. The key in all of it was for Titus to live a life of integrity, so those who watched and attempted to say anything negative about Titus’ ministry would be put to shame. This is so vital in every era of history, but perhaps never more so than today, when every moment of our lives is either recorded or could be recorded. We must always assume someone is watching, because even if no human audience is watching, God is!
In Titus 3, Paul closes his brief letter to Titus by commanding him to live a holy life, to teach others to do so, and to remember where all of them had started: as sinners. Only by the grace of God in Jesus are we saved and do our lives change. Paul reminded Titus not to put up with those who caused trouble, basically offering a “three strikes and you are out instruction.” Paul encouraged Titus to welcome and help those who were carrying out Jesus’ ministry in his closing comments. Paul’s words always lead us to the conclusion Jesus’ followers must be generous and must cultivate a habit and attitude of generosity.
As we return to Luke 9, we’re reminded while each chapter in each of the gospels is important some hold more significant content than others. Such is Luke 9. In it, Jesus sends out the twelve on their first mission to preach the gospel. When they return, He takes them away for some rest, but the crowds come. Jesus teaches them, and then feeds 5,000 men along with the women and children with five loaves of bread and a couple fish. After this Jesus asks the disciples who the crowds say He is, and then asks them. Peter responds to Jesus with the “right” answer. He is the Christ or Messiah. Jesus then tells the twelve of His impending death and resurrection. Later in the chapter, Jesus, Peter, James and John go up on a mountain where Jesus is transfigured with Moses and Elijah. When they return, they find the remaining nine disciples unable to cast a demon out of a young boy. Jesus casts out the demon, and then Jesus again tells the twelve He is going to die and rise again. This time the twelve raise the question of who among them is the greatest–not exactly an empathetic response to Jesus’ revelation. Jesus finds Himself rejected in Samaria, and His followers challenging others who were casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Jesus tells them to permit them to do so, because anyone who is not against Him is for Him. The chapter closes with Jesus telling several folks who claim they have come to follow Him it will be harder than they think. He tells them of the challenges they will face, and we’re led to believe they don’t follow. We must always remember following Jesus comes with costs. We must never assume following Him will be easy or that it will bring only blessings in this life. The ultimate rewards of following Jesus are having a relationship with Him, and one day being with Him personally forever!