storiesofvalue

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:5)

If we aren’t careful it is easy to focus just on the things Paul is correcting and forget why.  Paul isn’t out to destroy false teachers.  Instead, he is trying to bring them back to the core message of Christ, which is love.

Love was the message of Jesus, and it resonated through the writings of the apostle Paul.  Some people portray Paul as a hard man, full of rebuke and rebuttal.  It is true we have large portions of scripture that are filled with strong words. 

But this is because it was a constant struggle to maintain the purity of the gospel.  And what was this purity?

A pure heart…Our hearts are sprinkled clean with the blood of Jesus.

A good conscience…Our conscience is clear because we are no longer condemned.

A sincere faith…We put our trust in Jesus, and Him alone.

If we take a little time to think about these three components, we will realize why the legalism Timothy faced in Ephesus was so destructive.  When people put their faith in human achievement or good works, something happens to their approach to life.  All of a sudden they become obsessed with rules and inflated by their ability to keep them.  Then they begin to judge those who don’t.

The interesting (and almost amusing) thing about this legalistic spirit is how inconsistent it can become to those looking in from the outside.  This is why Jesus used comical metaphors to describe the actions of the Pharisees in Matthew 23. 

“You blind guides!  You strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!”

“You are like tombs!  Outside you are whitewashed, but inside you are full of dead bones!”

“You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and self-indulgence!”

I am not saying we shouldn’t correct and rebuke.  Certainly the apostle Paul spent a lot of energy doing so.  But when we start trying to earn our own way into heaven, things get weird…funny even…

And I for one don’t want to be the town joke.

Dear God, help me be honest with myself.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work–which is by faith. (1 Timothy 1:3-4)

Paul’s first (and second) letter to Timothy was written after his Roman imprisonment, which is where we leave Paul at the end of the book of Acts.  This means the entire grouping of letters known as the “Pastoral Letters” (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) were penned when Paul was a free man.  We don’t have a biblical chronological record of this period in Paul’s ministry, but we do have references to it, such as this morning’s passage, and we do our best to put the pieces together in a logical manner.

Several years earlier, Paul had spent approximately three years in Ephesus, struggling against paganism, and teaching the Word of God.  Of all the places he ministered, Ephesus was where he had an opportunity to put down a few roots and establish some close relationships he would treasure throughout his ministry. 

Before Paul was caught up in a riot in Jerusalem and eventually taken to Rome to stand trial, he met the elders of the church at Ephesus.  They chose a town called Miletus for the meeting, presumably so they could spend some quality time together without the distractions of ministry and controversy.  It was a time of prayer and tearful farewells.  It is also noteworthy Paul encouraged the elders to stand guard against false teachers. 

And so, years after Paul fought personal battles in Ephesus, and fewer years after he had met with the elders of Ephesus who were fighting the very same battles, Paul wrote to Timothy to offer support in the same struggle. 

The main source of false teaching in Ephesus was Jewish in nature, or more accurately, “Jewish-Christian.”  Some Jewish followers of Christ were practicing rules and regulations relevant under the Old Testament Law, and pressuring others to do the same.  These practices were no longer necessary since Jesus had fulfilled the Law on the cross and offered Himself as the final sacrifice. 

When people are pressured to follow rules that are no longer relevant, or necessary, faith becomes very legalistic and “work” oriented.  In other words, the rules begin to overtake the heart, and before long the focus of worship gets lost in the practice of religion.

Having just finished a study of Titus, I am struck at how defined the flaw of legalism was in the writing of the Apostle Paul.  He understood the mentality behind it and the danger it posed to the church.  As we move through out study, pay careful attention to Paul’s method of refuting it.  Legalism is still with us today and it is important for all of us to understand how it differs from sincere faith.

Dear God, help me know the difference.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.   

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (1 Timothy 1:1-2) 

Paul’s first letter to Timothy was written to encourage him in his role of Christian leadership.  The challenges before him and Paul’s instructions will become evident as our study unfolds.  For now, we must begin with a profile of Timothy.

Timothy was a follower of Jesus from the city of Lystra.  His mother was a Jewish Christian and his father was Greek.  The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke very highly of Timothy, so Paul decided it would be good to take him with him on his mission (Acts 16:2). 

In preparation, Paul circumcised Timothy.  This has been a matter of some discussion since Paul often wrote about the irrelevance of circumcision compared to salvation by grace.  Why would Paul ask Timothy to do something that was unnecessary?  Wasn’t he setting a bad example?

The rationale for Paul’s actions can be found in his 1^st letter to the Corinthians.  There he wrote, “Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)  Circumcision was not necessary, but since a lot of people would have been aware that Timothy’s father was Greek, the fact he was not circumcised could have become an issue.

Therefore, Timothy was circumcised (which is a testimony to his commitment to the work), and he and Paul began their journey together, along with Silas.  Later, when they were in Berea, some Jewish enemies stirred up trouble, and Paul left for Athens.  But he left Timothy and Silas behind to finish up some ministry.

In our passage today, Paul calls Timothy his “true son in the faith.”  This would suggest Paul was the one who led him to Christ, although we are not told this for certain.  We do know Timothy’s grandmother Lois was a believer and we have already noted his mother (Eunice) was as well (2 Timothy 1:5).  Whether or not Paul was the one who led Timothy to Christ, he certainly was his chief mentor.  None of Paul’s relationships in his ministry were more important than the one he shared with Timothy. 

With this history in mind, we could only expect any letter from Paul to Timothy would be filled with important instructions and heart-felt encouragement.  And we would be right.

The work of ministry in the first century church was hard, and young men like Timothy needed to know they weren’t alone.  They also needed a little boost when they were called on to take some risks.

But then…don’t we all?

Dear God, thank You for those who encourage us in our work for You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. (Titus 3:15)

And so we come to the close of Paul’s letter to Titus.  Titus certainly had his work cut out for him.  He had elders to ordain, false teachers to rebuke, and ragged believers to encourage. 

It was nice to hear “everyone” who was with Paul sent their greetings.  We aren’t sure who this “everyone” included, since Paul’s journeys at this point aren’t chronologically accounted for in the scriptures.  But it is possible, since Paul left Titus on Crete, Titus was aware of who might be included in the group.

This also explains why there were those in Crete who were capable of loving “everyone” (us).  Some significant relationships had obviously been forged during the days the gospel was being planted. 

Paul’s words remind us all how important our relationships are in the Lord’s church, regardless of where we serve, or how long we are separated. 

Every now and then I hear from those who receive our Morning Devotions whom I haven’t seen in person for a long time.  In fact, let me take this opportunity to give a “shout out” to some special people in Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, and anywhere else I have forgotten.

And it is great for me to connect with our military personnel, government workers and missionaries who are serving half-way across the world.  Can you imagine what it would have been like for the Apostle Paul had he had access to the Internet?

There are many messages in this loving farewell.  One is to value and treasure our relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of how the miles might separate us.  Obviously, none of us have the ability to maintain an infinite number of relationships, and we must have realistic expectations of others.  But we can still pray for one another, and with the blessing of social media send out an occasional greeting.

We should also be willing to invest our lives with church families as our careers take us to different places.  A military family once shared a rule with me:  Within the first week of moving to a new location the moving boxes had to be on the curb, and within the first month they needed to be worshipping with a new church family.  They had learned the hard way how important it is to use the time we have to form relationships with other believers…because you never know when you might cross paths again.  And even if we don’t in this life, we will certainly see each other in heaven.

Grace be with you all.  That’s because it is grace that binds us together, grace that keeps us of one heart and mind, and grace that brings us home. 

Thank you for going on this journey with us through the book of Titus.  Everyone here sends their greetings.

Dear God, thank You for your church family.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.      

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives. (Titus 3:14)

Who are “our people” and why does Paul toss out this lesson on productivity as he closes his letter?  Is this a random comment intended to remind the Christians on Crete to demonstrate a good work ethic? 

In order to understand where Paul is coming from, we need to summarize some things he had already written.  Remember the famous slogan about Cretans: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12).  Then consider the behavior of the false teachers who were trying to confuse others: “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.” (Titus 3:9).

What emerges is the picture of divisive individuals who have nothing better to do with their time than burden others with unnecessary rules and discouraging words.  Instead, these trouble-makers should be productive for the kingdom and stop looking for ways to use the Lord’s church as a vehicle for personal gain. 

The older I get the more conscious I become of time and energy.  If I only have so much time and energy, I want to make sure it is used in the most effective way. 

It is my observation, it isn’t that we truly have “nothing better” to do with our time, but rather that we neglect what is better while we waste our lives on things that are ultimately unimportant. 

Our priorities would be different if, as the Lord’s people, we were supposed to be opponents of one another.  Consider this example:  I have heard people say world class soccer matches are boring because people run up and down the field forever without scoring.  But for those who know the sport, there is a lot going on.  Players are positioning themselves, wearing down the opposition, unraveling the defense, and carefully calculating their attack.  A last-minute goal that wins the game is merely the culmination of everything else leading up to that point. 

But the church is one body.  We aren’t here to position ourselves, wear one another down, unravel one another’s defense, or attack each other’s work.  That’s Satan’s game plan.  The idea that these activities would somehow make the church stronger or more effective is insane and warped (Titus 3:11).

There is so much good to be done and so many reasons why we should encourage one another in the good we are doing. 

Perhaps you remember these words from the writer of Hebrews 10:24: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”  What “better” thing can you do?

Dear God, help me be productive.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. (Titus 3:13)

Zenas was not a lawyer in the sense we think of one today.  He was likely an expert in Jewish law.  We don’t know anything else about him, but it is interesting to speculate.  Was he a Greek who converted to Judaism before choosing to follow Jesus?  Or was he born to a Jewish family and given a Greek name?  Did he have two names?  Regardless, if he was an expert in the Law, he had been in the Jewish culture for some time.  He would have been especially helpful to Paul as he bridged the gap between Gentile believers and Jewish traditionalists. 

Apollos is assumed to be the same person of Alexandria mentioned in Acts 18.  There, he was said to be a bold preacher of Christ who had some doctrinal issues that needed to be corrected by Priscilla and Aquilla. 

It is a little hard to discern Zenas and Apollos’ itinerary, but many people think Apollos was the carrier of Paul’s letter to Titus.  Whether Apollos had come straight from Nicopolis, or from some other location where Paul was staying before moving to Nicopolis we can’t determine with certainty.  But there is no doubt these two men were very important to Paul, and that they had a clear mission to fulfill.

I am jealous of Bible people like Zenas and Apollos.  They were involved in the work of the Apostle Paul during a period of time when he was a living legend.  They were trusted with important letters and were a part of the glue that held the ministry to the Greek world together.  What we know about them only highlights how much we don’t know. 

I liken their efforts to mission work supported by the local church today.  The church I serve has missionaries all over the world, and our philosophy is to build close relationships with the people we support so we know what is being accomplished with the Lord’s resources, and so we can celebrate what He is doing. 

In a few weeks we will be relocating a family of six from our church family to a medical mission in Cambodia.  In four months we will be working at a mission in Haiti where we have formed friendships with a number of leaders.  And, of course, we are constantly working alongside a host of people in our own community and throughout the country as we watch God expand His kingdom on earth.

The more I find out about the comings and goings of God’s people, the more excited I get.  The good news of Jesus is being shared everywhere!  Well, not really everywhere.  But we’re working on it.

Dear God, show me the extent of Your kingdom work.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. (Titus 3:12)

You may remember when we began our study of Paul’s letter to Titus we said the work in Crete appears to have occurred after Paul’s Roman imprisonment at the end of Acts 27.  Without a structured chronological account, we are left to piece together the journeys of Paul after his presumed release. 

Paul left Titus on Crete to be a resource to the new churches there and to set elders apart for leadership.  It is hard to know which was harder, the initial groundbreaking with the gospel on Crete, or the follow-up ministry of Titus.  But we can safely assume neither was easy.

Therefore, this morning’s verse was good news to Titus’ ears.  Very soon either Artemas or Tychicus was going to be coming to relieve him, and his next stop was the west coast of Greece in the pleasant city of Nicopolis. 

As I thought about Titus’ tour of duty on Crete and Paul’s invitation to Nicopolis I was reminded of how important it is for us to have time to recharge our emotional, physical and mental batteries.  We can only go for so long before we become less effective, regardless of how hard we work.

I live in an area where a lot of military personnel come and go.  I am amazed at how quickly they transition from months of intense battlefield experience to their next assignment.  While I know this lifestyle is necessary for our national defense and for the most part soldiers adjust, I am always concerned about those who don’t. 

How do we know when we need to recharge?  Our answers might differ.  I know people who operate like nuclear powered warships, going years without a refueling.  But I also know those who are like plug-in cars, since they are good at short-term commitments, but need frequent breaks. 

When I was a kid, people were just beginning to talk about “burn-out.”  One day my father got tired of people using “burn-out” as an excuse for dropping their responsibilities and their promises to others and he said, “I’d rather burn-out than rust out.”  Of course, the ideal is to do neither, but he made his point.

I only know we all come to a place where we need a break.  Like cracks in a dam our fatigue starts to compromise our mission, and unless we do something to repair the damage and lessen the pressure, we could reach the position where it is impossible to turn the waters back. 

We all need a Nicopolis.  I’ll tell you, hands down, mine is the beach.  A bad day at the beach is better than a good day anywhere else.  And I know this: God doesn’t expect us to go on forever without a recharge.  Even nuclear ships have to be refueled.  Or else they will find themselves dead in the water.  I don’t want to be dead in the water.

Dear God, give me a break.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.    

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law,because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.  (Titus 3:9-11)

After a short restatement of the core issue among the Cretan Christians (that of judging others by the Old Testament Law, and its rules and regulations), Paul launches a character profile.

The profile in question is the “divisive person.” 

Who is he?  Paul describes him as “warped and sinful.”  He is “self-condemned” because he exposes his motives and nature through his actions. 

The behavior of the divisive person, as the name suggests, is to divide.  His motives and methods vary.

I am not an expert in this area, but I have seen a repeated pattern in two kinds of divisive people in my lifetime.  Paul touches on both:

The quarrelsome – He uses “controversies” and “arguments” to polarize people and gain a following.  In retrospect, most of the subjects he chooses are irrelevant, but at the time his passionate appeal stirs up trouble.

The antagonist – He is less overt and cleverly employs spiritual language (god-talk) to claim special authority.  He uses generalizations such as “everyone” and “always” to make his adherents seem greater than they really are.  He flatters openly and criticizes privately.  It is difficult to see through an antagonist because of his “warped” nature, and unfortunately, he has the ability to delude and propagate delusion.

It is hard to know which of these two are the most divisive.  The quarrelsome can do a lot of damage, but at least his motives and methods are easy to discern.  The antagonist is craftier and not everyone understands his game.

Again, I am not an expert, but I have discovered those who have not made peace with past failures, frustrations and disappointments are most prone to divisiveness.  After all, it is much easier to be critical of others in the present than it is to be authentic about one’s yesterday. 

Paul encourages Titus to “warn” a divisive person twice before cutting him loose.

Wow!  That’s harsh.

So is the harm and hurt a divisive person can inflict on a church family.  And sometimes, those who heed the warning enter into a time of careful reflection and emerge as new people.  I always liked the way my father framed his warning to divisive people: “My word!  Wake up and smell the roses!” Surely divisive people can find something better to do with their lives.

Dear God, show me how to nurture unity.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This is a trustworthy saying.  And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.  These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Titus 3:8)

“This” refers to the traits of our old life that have been replaced by our new Master, Jesus Christ…the one who justified us by grace and made us heirs with Him. 

Incidentally, if I may take one side trip: We are “justified” by grace because Jesus has settled our sentence of death with the gift of His own life on Calvary.  The One who knew no sin became sin and died in our place.

And so, we want to do what is good.  Our motivation is our gratitude for the mercy of Jesus.  This stands in stark contrast to the Cretans who judged those who were not adhering to Old Testament rules and regulations.  There is nothing good about doing good deeds to attain a righteousness of our own.  But rightly framed, our good is excellent and profitable for everyone. 

How are the excellent things we do profitable for everyone? 

Certainly, when we do something good to help someone, it profits them.  If we help a motorist fix a flat tire, they are able to get to work on time.  If we take a meal to the home of a neighbor who is sick, we aid them in their recovery.

But how do good deeds profit everyone?  Is this just a collective way of saying everyone we help profits.  Well, sort of…but not exactly.

I believe Paul is talking about the corporate witness of the church.  When the church allows people to act selfishly, and judge others where Jesus would not judge them, a spirit of discontent settles over the body, and the Lord’s body becomes an inhospitable place.

However, when everyone chooses to live by the mercy of the cross, and no one looks out merely for his own interests, a new “vibe” is heard, and the gospel message is made attractive. 

When the church reflects the message of Jesus in an attractive way, everyone wins.  Those outside of Jesus see Him reflected in his people, and those who are already in Him enjoy being a part of a healthy body that fulfills its purpose.

You see, when the old master messes with the Lord’s people, everyone feels his destructive presence.  But when the new Master is allowed to rule, there is joy.

This is why Paul wants Titus to “stress these things.”  It is better to stress the right things than to let the wrong things stress us out.

Dear God, help me focus on things that are profitable for everyone.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)

In our previous devotion, we were reminded of the old master who enslaved us “at one time.”  He led us to do foolish things, and exploited our human passions.  This, in turn, led us to treat others with disrespect.  After all, hate and envy are normal responses to those who stand in our way when we are driven by selfishness.

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared” everything changed.  We were saved by the blood of His Son Jesus, and we received the hope of eternal life.  In fact, we were given a place at His table as “heirs” to His kingdom.

This means we went from being subjects to the Prince of Darkness to princes and princesses of the Lord of all.  And instead of being driven to heartache by an evil ruler, we are being washed and renewed by the Holy Spirit.

There really is no comparison between life under the old master and the new.  But there are plenty of contrasts. 

The old way involved: hate, envy, deception, disobedience, slander, enslavement, foolishness and wickedness.  The new way involves: kindness, love, hospitality, self-control, endurance, hope and mercy. 

In our Christian walk we will battle inwardly between these two ways.  But if we recognize their characteristics, we will remember which side we are on, and will raise the banner of Christ high.

This reality is one of the tensions that make living for Jesus difficult.  A tension is something we must live with, but thrive in the midst of.  In today’s case, it is the difference between who we were and who we are, in light of what we are.  We are sinful human beings, selfish by nature and passionate about many things.  The old master used these traits against us.  The new Master, Jesus, pulls us in the direction of the cross where we crucify self along with its evil thoughts and practices.

Do you sense the battle?  Are you winning? 

Don’t you know you have already won?  Be careful about spending time behind enemy lines.  You will revert to your old way of life to hide your identify, and before you know it, you will lose yourself. 

You no longer belong to the enemy, and his cause is no longer yours.  The battle belongs to the Lord.

Dear God, keep the two side of the battle clear in my mind.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.