Today's reading is from the book of Titus, chapter 1:1-4. This morning I was reading from The Message version.
I realize that I sometimes get long-winded in my blog posts. They tend to be longer than most posts of this type you see here and there on the internet. My posts are intended to give you a morning spiritual meal, not a snack. As I feed myself each morning, I share with you. I hope that this blog nourishes you spiritually, as that is what I have felt led by the Lord to do: to share my morning spiritual food with you each day. I'll be honest. It is against my nature to do a blog, as I lack self-discipline in this area. But, I am trying to walk in obedience to the Lord in doing it, so as to glorify Him.
Paul introduces himself at the beginning of each of his New Testament letters. While that may seem egotistical to you, remember that for a long time he was seen as "Public Enemy #1 of the Early Church". He was a fanatical Jewish leader, who was committed to exterminating the Christian movement by going around killing Christians wherever he found them. He was a one-man Inquisition and Executioner! The beautiful thing about after Saul (he was called Saul then) was converted is that that very same passion and zeal carried over into his new life in Christ! He turned from killing Christians to "birthing" disciples in Christ! Sometimes, I encounter very passionate people who are headed off in a destructive direction and I think, "Oh, if only they could meet the living God! I just know that passion would change the world for Christ!" Jesus, in His sovereignty, chose to "slap Paul upside the head with His awesomeness", and the world is forever changed by this man who was "on fire" for Jesus. You can find the story of Saul's conversion in Acts 9.
From Paul, a slave of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before time began. 3 But now in his own time he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior.4 To Titus, my genuine son in a common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior!
Titus 1:1-4 (NET)
So, at the beginning of Titus, look at how Paul describes himself:
1. God's slave
2. Christ's agent (apostle)
With this declaration, Paul is declaring the Jewish religion as being the foundation of Christianity. The two faiths are inextricably linked, and the members of the early Church were encouraged to not reject the major tenets of Judaism, but to let the Jewish faith point them to Jesus. Even Jesus said that he did not come to abolish the Old Testament law of Moses, but to fulfill it. (Matthew 5:17)
Paul further states here that his calling is to:
1. promote the faith among God's chosen people
2. get out the word accurately and how to respond rightly to it
3. point the way to life without end
Let's dig here. Who are God's chosen people? God's chosen people in this Church age are those who accept God's Son, Jesus Christ, as their Savior. If you read that and think, "Well, I'm not one of those chosen ones, then it is you who are deciding to reject Jesus, not God making that decision for you. When the Scriptures say (Jesus' words) in Matthew 22:14, "Many are called, but few are chosen", it means the invitation is extended to everyone. "The chosen" are those who respond to the Holy Spirit's prompting, who refuse to harden their hearts to God, and who accept God's gracious invitation of His Son, Jesus.
Many have said, and I agree with them, that Jesus came at just the perfect time in history to allow the early Church to grow and flourish. One of the evidences is here in Paul's next phrase ("get out the word accurately...). While, to us, it seems that communication was very limited (foot travel/messenger or written letter or both) these "antiquated" modes of communication allowed Paul and the other early Church fathers to correct error as they encountered it. There was plenty of it! Because Christianity was born out of Judaism, and the Jews of that day were ultra-bound up in their legalistic traditions, it was difficult for Paul and the other Church leaders to "root that out". BUT, can you imagine all the error that would have been spread in this modern world, via TV, email, Twitter, Facebook, etc.? (blogs? lol...) had Jesus been born and lived today? We still use Paul's New Testament letters (and also those of other eyewitness apostles) today. How great is our God and how wise!
"Life without end" - - - if I try to grasp that concept it quickly kinks up my brain. Can't grasp it. But, what a thought! We who know Jesus will be in Heaven forever and ever and ever. And, those who do not know him, well, they will exist in an eternity apart from God, which the Bible records as being a place of eternal torment. The best example of this is the story of the wise man and Lazarus, whose deaths are retold by Jesus in Luke 16:19-31. We'll talk in more detail about that tomorrow.
Paul's calling is the calling of every Christian pastor and Bible teacher, but wait....hold on now, before you push that aside, it is also the calling of every Christian! God has gifted every Christian with the spiritual gifts unique to him or her, so that each of us can fulfill these purposes by using our spiritual gifts! (Spiritual gifts are a multi-blogpost topic...)
In verse 4, Paul admonishes Titus to "receive everything God our Father and Jesus our Savior give you"! That admonition applies to every Christian also. I hope that I will and I hope that you will, Christ follower, embrace that in your life. Today, receive everything God has given you in Christ, whether it is easy or not, whether it is "your plan" or not! If you do, you will be ... resplendent!
Father, thank you for the example You gave us in your Word, the example of the apostle Paul. While we do not possess the same set of spiritual gifts he did, You have created each of us beautiful in your sight. Through Christ, you see us as bought back, redeemed, perfect, resplendent! Help us to embrace the calling You have given to each one of us and also to use our set of gifts to honor and glorify You today and every day. I love you, Lord! In Jesus' name, amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment