February 20 Friday Titus
2.1-15
2 As to you, Titus:
talk to them; give them a good, healthy diet of solid teaching so they will
know the right way to live.
2 Here’s what I
want you to
teach the older men: enjoy everything in moderation, respect yourselves and
others, be sensible, and dedicate yourselves to living an unbroken
faith demonstrated by your love and perseverance.
3 And here’s what
I want you to
teach the older women: Be respectful. Steer clear of gossip or drinking too
much so that you can teach what is good to young women. Be a positive
example, showing them what it is to love their husbands and children, and teaching
them to 5 control themselves in every way and to be
pure. Train them to manage the household, to be kind, and to be
submissive to their husbands, all of which honor the word of God.
6 Encourage the young
men in the same way: in every situation, they should learn to control
themselves.
7-8 Titus, you have
to
set a good example for everyone. Go out of your way to do what is right, speak
the truth with the weight and authority that come from an honest and pure life.
No one can argue with that. Then your enemies will cower in shame because they
have nothing bad to say against us.
9 Advise all the
servants: Work hard for your masters, and be loyal to them. Strive to please.
Don’t be rude or sarcastic. 10 Don’t steal or embezzle your
masters’ property. Show them you are trustworthy, and all the credit will
go to the teaching of God our Savior.
11 We have cause to
celebrate
because the grace of God has appeared, offering the gift of salvation to
all people. 12 Grace arrives with its own instruction:
run away from anything that leads us away from God; abandon the lusts and
passions of this world; live life now in this age with awareness and
self-control, doing the right thing and keeping yourselves holy. 13 Watch
for His return; expect the blessed hope we all will share when our
great God and Savior, Jesus the Anointed, appears again. 14 He
gave His body for our sakes and will not only break us free from the chains
of wickedness, but He will also prepare a community uncorrupted by the
world that He would call His own—people who are passionate about doing the
right thing.
15 So, Titus, tell them all
these things. Encourage and teach them with all authority—and rebuke them with
the same. You are a man called to serve, so don’t let anyone belittle
you.
This passage reminds me a lot of the Golden Rule: To treat everyone with as much love and respect as you would want in return. Too often in the past I had viewed the Titus passages as commandments and limitations wielded like a harsh weapon from a stern authoritarian.
ReplyDeleteNow I see it as a way to make peace in our lives, with our families, with our neighbors. It says, don't gossip, treat your loved ones reverently. Give a full days wage lovingly to your employer. Don't boast or try and lord it over people.