Titus 1:1-9

Titus 1:1-9 (The Message)

Titus 1 1-4I, Paul, am God’s slave and Christ’s agent for promoting the faith among God’s chosen people, getting out the accurate word on God and how to respond rightly to it. My aim is to raise hopes by pointing the way to life without end. This is the life God promised long ago—and he doesn’t break promises! And then when the time was ripe, he went public with his truth. I’ve been entrusted to proclaim this Message by order of our Savior, God himself. Dear Titus, legitimate son in the faith: Receive everything God our Father and Jesus our Savior give you!
A Good Grip on the Message 5-9I left you in charge in Crete so you could complete what I left half-done. Appoint leaders in every town according to my instructions. As you select them, ask, “Is this man well-thought-of? Is he committed to his wife? Are his children believers? Do they respect him and stay out of trouble?” It’s important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God’s house, be looked up to—not pushy, not short-tempered, not a drunk, not a bully, not money-hungry. He must welcome people, be helpful, wise, fair, reverent, have a good grip on himself, and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose it.

Devotional: In biblical times, Paul was a champion for Christ. He continuously sought out ways to spread the news and was in charge of looking for others to help. He trusted God and this embodied the way he lived his life. Who are today’s leaders? There not just our ministers and those who have sought out a Christian education. They can be any of us. God has given each of us gifts and talents that can be used to reach others with the message of Jesus Christ. He also has given us past experiences, some painful and others uplifting, that can serve as incredible testaments to God’s never ending love and work in our lives. We like Paul must be a champion for Christ and “play it forward”.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that you will give me wisdom, encouragement and faith to become a leader in spreading news about Christ to others. Amen.