Titus 2:6 In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. 7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 8 Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.
It appears that Paul had a very strong relationship with Titus since Titus had traveled with Paul at various times. Paul even addressed Titus as His "true" son of the faith in Titus 1:4. We can see a close relationship, almost father/son as Paul writes to him probably from Macedonia in between Roman imprisonments. Paul wanted to make sure the message of Christ would continue to be preached and the churches would hold to the importance of the gospel, so he instructed Titus on some elemental things that were needed to make this happen. Even amid Paul's persecution, he desired to promote the message and not the messenger and he chose Titus to make this priority a reality. In this letter Paul also addressed specifically the need for unity between generations and how that unity might work.
We can see in our world today the conflict between generations because of how God's Word was or wasn't elevated in the homes of believers. To pass down the mysteries of God's Word to our children is vital and leaving something of substance only comes through the purity of the Word of God. Life lessons can be taught before they happen if we just trust how God tells us to live our lives. The words of G.I. Joe ring true when those words say "Knowing is half the battle!" I think back on the great wisdom my dad shared with me, but I was too immature and proud to even think of listening and hearing those words. Every day I have instances where some of that wisdom comes into a memory and I say to myself "Dad was smart."
How much more important are the pure and eternal words of our heavenly Father and those words ring true wisdom in every circumstance of life? Yes. Every life circumstance. Paul wanted Titus to continue to rely on God's wisdom in carrying on the message of Christ to his generation and Titus not only read the words but followed them. A sign of true maturity is the desire to listen and learn. Of course, there must be something of substance spoken, but if those words are based on God's Word and God's wisdom, a Godly person will put their ego on hold and listen and learn.
Titus not only listened and learned, but he thrived as he took over the work on the island of Crete, and the church grew and flourished, in the right way. Titus's wisdom showed as he did not reject the instruction from the older Paul, and allowed the purity of his instruction to blossom and continue to grow the work there. It was as if Paul was there making decisions. Keep in mind Paul knew that the message of Jesus was the priority and in sharing that truth with Titus assured that the message would continue to be the end goal. The next generation holds to the eternal truth that many had died to share and the influence of Paul led them to the "main" thing. As a result, God's righteousness was elevated and their world was reached with the gospel even though Paul was no longer with them.
The gospel continued to be the goal and only the conduit was different. Titus, not Paul held the message in his heart and hands and he too continued to preach it and teach others to do the same. The Word continued and had Titus not accepted Paul's instructions someone else would have come along and been used by God to take up the slack. Or would God do something different because of the lack of commitment? Today's church needs to realize that God has uniquely equipped different people to carry on the message and God wants us to continue to share the message of salvation because He has chosen us to do so. Now it all comes down to what our choice will be. Take up the mantel or let it drop? If we continue as Titus did to take the instructions of those who have gone on before us will experience A Righteous Result!
The Pilgrimage Continues
David Warren
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