All of God’s Word is valuable for teaching us to live a God-honoring life, but today’s New Testament reading contains a great synopsis of the basics of the Christian life including our responsibilities whether older men and women or younger.
Also, read about God’s incredible patience and the reason God may be allowing some unpleasant circumstances in our lives.
Today’s Readings:
Jeremiah 51 & 52
Psalm 119.129-136
Proverbs 28.7-8
Titus 2.1-15
Basics of the Christian Life
Titus 2.1-15:
Older Men
As I said yesterday, Titus is full of great practical truths. Chapter 2 gives instructions on the proper biblical behavior for older men and women, as well as, younger ones. It also gives instructions for employees and for believers in general.
1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;
Older men are to be sober (serious, especially about the things of God), reverent (respectful of God and others), temperate (not given to excesses), sound in faith (mature in faith and good doctrine), full of love for others, and patient.
Older Women
3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
Whether older in years or older in spiritual maturity, mature women are to be godly examples and disciplers. That means they should first exemplify the character qualities they are to encourage in younger women.
Younger Men & Women
6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
Younger men and women are to be teachable and growing in their walks with God, especially in the areas where God has given them specific responsibilities. Wives should love their husbands, love their children, be sexually and morally pure, and keep their homes in order. Young men should be serious about their integrity and spiritual growth, respectful, and incorruptible (steadfast in their integrity).
Employees
9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
Christians should be the best employees. We should be respectful and obedient to our bosses and supervisors, never steal (even little things or time), and be loyal.
Always Growing
No matter where we are in our walks with God, we are to be growing (Eph. 4.14-15) and becoming more and more like Christ (Rom. 8.29). All of this is to be done so that we will bring glory to God and not cause the word of God to be blasphemed by a hypocritical lifestyle.
Jesus summed up the Christian life and all of God’s law in two commandments: Love God and love others (Matt. 22.37-40). But without the Spirit of God working in us and an understanding of God’s forgiveness and grace when we fail, that’s an impossible task. Yet, with Him, we can walk in grace-powered obedience.
For a great Bible study on the importance of being a Titus 2 woman, check out Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth’s Adorned: Living Out the Beauty of the Gospel Together. I went through this study with a wonderful group of ladies and it was such a blessing. Videos are available to make it easy for home fellowships or Bible studies.
Today’s Other Readings:
Jeremiah 51 & 52:
God’s Remarkable Patience
God’s patience truly is remarkable. When we read a story compressed into a few verses or a chapter or two of Scripture it’s easy to lose sight of the time frame, so let’s take a closer look at a portion of today’s reading. Chapter 52 begins:
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem … He also did evil in the sight of the Lord (vv. 1-2) … Now it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign … that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and encamped against it; and they built a siege wall against it all around. So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah (vv. 4-5).
Year after year, God called His people to repentance, sent prophets, gave victory when they followed Him, and allowed them to suffer losses when they turned to other gods. Jeremiah had been warning them of coming judgment if they didn’t repent, and finally, Zedekiah came to power—one more wicked king! Yet God waited nine years before this final siege and, even then, waited another year and a half before He allowed the total destruction of the city!
God’s Patience with Us
What about the consequences we sometimes experience? I wonder how many times we have gotten upset, even angry, with God for allowing something. Yet, we have, conveniently, forgotten that He had been patiently waiting and warning, trying to keep us from having to suffer the results of our own actions.
Instead of blaming Him once we experience the consequences, we need to be sensitive to His warnings through the Word, whether through preaching, reading, or some other means. And we need to be sensitive to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and quick to repent and cry out for His mercy, wisdom, and grace.
Psalm 119.129-136:
Weeping over Sin
Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your law (v. 136).
Do we weep over sin and unrighteousness in the lives of others and in our nation as a whole, or do we feel self-righteous and secretly rejoice when others reap the consequences of their actions? And what about our own sin; how many of us are truly broken when we come face to face with our own wretchedness?
I’m praying that each of us would take time to stop and think about our attitude toward sin. Are we truly broken over our own and do we seek to have God’s heart, mind, and patience with others?
Proverbs 28.7-8:
Compassion for the Poor
One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion gathers it for him who will pity the poor (v. 8).
Galatians 6 says it this way:
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
We need to have pity on the poor, whether they are poor financially or poor spiritually, and we especially need to look for ways to do good to those in the family of God.
Your Thoughts:
How has God spoken to you today? Perhaps you saw a passage in a new light or an area where you need to grow and change. Did you find a promise to hold on to? I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can share them in the comments section below.
Coming Up:
In the next few days, we’ll talk about national sin, the loss of restraining grace, putting your past behind you, truth, politics, God’s standard, and more.
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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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