The New Testament
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Devotional
Weekly Bible Devotion By Books
Jan.22-27 2024
Enter the presence of the Lord-
(All) Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light. (Psalm 36:6-9, NIV)
Confession
(All) Lord, our Savior, we come into your goodness and loving kindness
(Men)According to your mercy, save us from worldly passions and pleasures and flawed characters and lifestyles.
(Women) Pour out the Holy Spirit to us richly through the Jesus Christ, our Savior
(Men) Wash us, regenerate us, renew us.
(Women) We are your heirs, justified by your grace, granted the hope of eternal life.
(All) Praise you, the Lord!
(According to Titus 3: 4-7, NIV)
Scripture Reading: Titus (NIV)
2: 11-15 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
3: 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.
Thoughts to Share: Pastoral Leadership
The Epistle to Titus is very similar to the Epistles to Timothy. Timothy was assigned to Ephesus, a noisy multicultural city. Titus was sent to the island Crete in the Agentic Ocean. We hear that Paul instructed Titus how to lead the people whom he was about to shepherd in following three areas-
1. Select and set the leaders with all authority
Titus was directed and instructed to set the Christ-followers in every city in order. Good leaders are important. So selecting and appointing the leaders is an important task for any servant of God. The leaders in Titus are the elders-overseers, God’s steward. Paul guided Titus to see the qualifications of good elders-overseers.
Above reproach in the life areas such as
- Marriage and family: the husband of one wife, children are faithful, obedient, and not rebellion
- Emotionally: not arrogant, quicker-tempered, but good, self-controlled,
- Socially: not a drunkard, not a greedy person, violent, quarrelsome, but hospitable, good,
- Morally: upright, holy, disciplined
- Hold what he was taught and be able to instruct sound doctrine and rebuke false teachers
2.Teach sound Gospel of Jesus Christ with all authority: avoid empty and foolish talks, discern false teachers and their teachings, and rebuke them sharply.
3.Train the older, the young, the men, the women, the bondservants to live godly life according to the Gospel of Jesus. Teach them relate to the authorities, do good and be courtesy to all.
Paul reminded Titus that the power of training people to live a godly life is found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 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, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (3:4-7)
Titus will be not alone as he leads on. But he must be faithful to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The secret of godliness of our living is in Jesus Christ.
Prayer Suggestions
Jesus Christ, our Savior, praise that you have revealed the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the reason for us to stick to it. Yes, we see that apart from you, there is no salvation. There is no godly living. There is no true church. Thank you for your grace, your mercy, your goodness, and your loving kindness. We need you. Come, take the Lordship in our lives and in our churches. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
Benedictions:
Grace be with you all! (Titus 3:15)
Prayer Request
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