Pleading for Righteousness

Last night, I was worshipping with some online friends, which I do most Tuesday nights, and a video played in the chat room - - - the movie trailer for War Room.  (I won a DVD of that movie at an education sorority fundraiser, and I really need to make the time to watch it again.)  At any rate, Ms. Clara, the elderly mentor of the female lead, said this in the movie and it struck me so that I wrote it down.
"Plead with God so that He can do only what HE can do.  Then, you got to get out of the way and let Him do it!"

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.   At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

Colossians 4:2-3 (NET)

"Plead with God"....
That is a contemporary rendition of "Continue steadfastly in prayer", (the supplication and intercession aspects of prayer anyway....)
But, what things are we to plead with Him about?  And how?  How do we know what to pray, about those concerns/needs?

Well, first of all, if you belong to Jesus Christ, if you have asked Him to be your Lord and Savior, you cannot pray wrongly.  The Scriptures testify that the Holy Spirit intercedes for you and presents your prayers before the Father's throne. (Romans 8:26) In so doing, He makes our prayers righteous, because He can do nothing other than to do righteously.  He is God, after all, the third Person of the Holy Trinity.

But, usually, we plead with God about things closest to our hearts, don't we?  Look, if what we pray lines up with Scripture, we are praying right.  If it does not, we aren't.  And, if we pray, "Lord God, You are sovereign.  May You receive all glory and Your will be done in this situation!", then we can't lose.  That prayer is ALWAYS going to be right, because it is scriptural and it is being prayed with a correct heart attitude.

Let me give you a current example from my own life.

Some friends and I are both in similar places as far as our "vocations".  We both seem to be in a sort of lull at the moment, a period of waiting.  As far as my friends are concerned, I have my own selfish wishes about what God's will is going to be.  But, that, frankly, is irrelevant.  What I am praying is that God will make His will known to my friends, in a very clear way.  Whatever that outcome will be, I am watching expectantly to see what God will do.  And, when He does it, I will celebrate Him, glorify Him and rejoice in His goodness.  I am always happiest when I and my loved ones are in the center of God's will, whatever and wherever that may be.

As for me, I too am seeking His will in how this blogging and vlogging ministry will grow and/or how He wants me to spend my time each day.  So, pray for me and for my friends, if you will, verse 3 above.  It would mean the world to me if you would!

When you are waiting on the Lord to make His will known, this is a spiritual discipline that grows the Christian's faith.  So, don't chafe against it, if you, too, are in a place of pleading with God and then waiting for Him to show Himself glorious.  Be watchful!  And, when you see God do His mighty work, when He works His beautiful plan, give Him all the glory.  Thank Him and bless His name.
His answer is coming, and it is always "right on time".

https://youtu.be/XlR9TRs-cbM

Father, I thank you that You are concerned with every detail of our lives.  Thank you for these verses, which remind us of the centrality of prayer in our ongoing relationship with you.  Help me to remember that prayer is not just about talking to You, but that it is also about a constant conversation with You so that I can also hear FROM You.  To You, Lord Jesus, be all glory and honor and praise, forever and ever!  Amen

Benefits of Citizenship

Citizenship is the word that jumps out at me from today's passage, at the end of Philippians 3.  Every dweller on this earth has some sort of citizenship, and in most cases, multiple citizenships.  Here is an ordinary example.

A person is born somewhere on earth, in some country.  In some cases, the birth automatically makes him/her a citizen of that country.  Each sovereign country makes its own citizenship laws, but often being born in a country grants citizenship to the newborn, especially if one of the parents is also a citizen of that country.  Being born into a human family gives a person a type of citizenship within that family.

As the person grows, they usually accumulate other types of citizenship...clubs, churches, service organizations, etc.  In each case, citizenship confers certain rights but also carries responsibilities.
Citizens learn about their "group", to use a generic word, from its founding, guiding documents.  It is those documents which describe the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and also which give the group the principles that allow it to function in a healthy manner.  If the citizens follow the guiding documents, the organization is healthy (assuming the guiding documents are sound to begin with). 

In the Christian church, for example, what is the most foundational "document"?  The Bible, of course! It is full of God's precious promises, the benefits and rights of citizenship, membership in the Church Universal, the Body of Christ! Then, individual groups (in Southern Baptist parlance, we call them conventions, associations and churches) go beyond the Bible to establish governing documents, such as church constitutions and by-laws.  These tools further define local rights and help to ensure the healthy functioning of the citizens.  Properly crafted, when they are adhered to, order follows.  When they are not, chaos and enmity ensue.

Paul saw great power in citizenship.  He was a citizen of Rome, by birth. As such, he used his Roman citizenship effectively to open doors for the spread of the gospel, which other Jews could not.  His Roman citizenship carried many excellent benefits.  He also viewed citizenship as a great analogy for the Christian experience.  Let's look at today's scripture:

10  My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12  Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. 13  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, 14  with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15  Therefore let those of us who are “perfect” embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways. 16  Nevertheless, let us live up to the standard that we have already attained.

20  But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,  21 who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself.

Philippians 3:10-16, 20-21

(NET) 

Despite all of Paul's confusing talk of "attaining", the key to this passage is verse 16.  By Jesus Christ's virtue, by His finished work on our behalf, by our being born into God's family spiritually, having accepted Jesus Christ as Redeemer/Savior, we have already "attained perfection".  That is, His perfection has been conferred upon us, as our heavenly citizenship.  This "attaining" happened at the moment each of us made his or her own personal decision to accept and follow Jesus Christ.

Paul goes on to affirm the ultimate benefit of possessing heavenly citizenship: eventually, we will see Jesus, face-to-face.  It will occur either at the time of our death or when Jesus returns to earth, whichever happens first.  Other benefits of heavenly citizenship, as we live our earthly lives, are:

• knowing Him more and more (as I blogged about in the last post) (vs. 10)

• experiencing His resurrection power on a day-to-day basis (vs. 10)

• sharing in His sufferings (vs. 10)

• living out His calling on our life (vs. 12-14)  "I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ laid hold of me"

• humbly "running for the prize" (vs. 14)

Some of these don't sound like benefits, do they?  But they are!  The reason they are is that they mold us more and more into the image of our Savior, Jesus.  Or, at least, they should, since that is what they are designed to accomplish.  Some of the benefits sort of "bleed over" into the arena called "responsibilities of citizenship", which I'll blog about tomorrow.

Lord Jesus, Father God has put all things under your feet, and I am so grateful that you "subject all things" to Yourself.  I pray for myself today, Lord, to learn You more, to love You more, to have my heart brought into greater alignment with Yours. I submit myself to Your calling on my life, even to share in Your sufferings, as my life is Yours.  I gave it to You some 50 years ago.  I ask that You keep me humble, Father.  Only in humility can I truly, single-mindedly "run for the prize".  Pride is a snare and a trap, which will trip up even the most dedicated and well-trained runners.  Thank you for "laying hold of me"!  Oh thank you, Lord Jesus!  In Your blessed name, amen.

The Workplace

What is your "work"? Do you like to work?  I do, if it is a type of work that lines up with my God-given talents and spiritual gifts.  Given the opportunity to exercise those, work is a source of supreme joy and satisfaction.  I was given the soul of a crusader, basically.  Part of my individual personhood is all about "righting wrongs" and "campaigning for Truth".  I am repulsed by folks who would walk by the person lying on the side of the road, beaten and bloody, and say, "Someone else will do it."  In my world, it is a disgrace for someone to not exercise their faith, their natural talents and/or their spiritual gifts, ignoring opportunities God puts before them.

So, again, what is your "work"?  What has God given you to do?  And, more importantly, are you doing it?  I was talking with a friend yesterday who works with her husband jointly in their shared work.  She said that she cannot imagine them doing anything else.  That's the kind of laser-like focus God wants from all of us, on the tasks He has assigned us or called us to.

In Ephesians 6:5-9, Paul is talking about the workplace, basically.  At least, that is the application to our modern day.  Let's take a look at the economy of the first century in Paul's part of the world.1

The economy of first century Israel was supported by three key segments: agriculture of olives, figs, grains, dates, and vineyards; trade fostered by Israel’s key location on the Mediterranean Sea; and large government building projects sponsored by King Herod.

• King Herod employed many laborers by commissioning many public works (e.g. building temple in Jerusalem, palaces, ports, fortresses, stadiums, ornate stone carvings, etc.) 
• There was a very large disparity between rich and poor.
• The upper class was made up of the temple priests and priestly aristocracy (including the Sadducees – a Jewish sect)
• The middle class was comprised of traders and merchants, artisans (stonecutters, masons, sculptors) and craftsman (metal, wood, cloth dye). The Pharisees (another Jewish sect), sages, scribes, and teachers were also a part of the middle class.
• The lower class was made of laborers (weavers, stone carriers, slaves (non-Jewish person taken into slavery because of debt), and the unemployable (lepers, blind, insane, crippled, etc.)
• The Roman government required heavy taxation of its people. Tax collectors were local employees considered to be outcasts and traitors.
• Jews were also required to give sacrifices to the temple – sometimes in the form of money, and usually by purchasing sacrificial animals to offer to the priests.
• Traveling teachers made their living by traveling from town to town and accepting gifts from those who came to hear them. 
• During the first century, the temple courtyards had often become a marketplace – local merchants would sell sacrificial animals at excessive cost in order to turn a profit from the tourists or religious seekers that would come to the temple.

Paul used the examples of slaves (non-Jews, remember?), who were the very lowest social class and their masters, the very highest, to make his points.  It is hard for us to relate to this social structure in modern-day, first-world countries, such as America.  But, we can read this passage and draw some parallels to the modern-day "world of work".

At the moment, and for the past five years, I have been self-employed, a small business owner who does contract work for other educational agencies.  You may be self-employed, a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) or an employee of a business or government agency.  These parallels I'm going to draw to this passage are primarily for those of you who "work for someone" or to use the common parlance "work for The Man", lol!

5  Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ, 6 not like those who do their work only when someone is watching – as people-pleasers – but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.  

7 Obey with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord and not people, 8 because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this will be rewarded by the Lord.

9 Masters, treat your slaves the same way, giving up the use of threats, because you know that both you and they have the same master in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. 

Ephesians 6:5-9

How to view and deal with "bosses":
1.  Realize that they are your boss because God ordained that, at least for now, they are in authority over you.
2.  Have a respectful attitude and deal with them respectfully, out of respect for their position, if you are unable to respect them for their character and/or their leadership.  Sometimes the latter is not possible, because supervisors/employers have values that are contrary to yours.  Sometimes, they make difficult decisions with which you don't agree.  Most times, you are not privy to all of the circumstances that led to the decision either.   So, don't backbite talk-down your employer behind his/her back, as this is the next-highest form of disrespect, coming in directly behind outright disobedience (insubordination).  Both can likely get you fired, or at the very least passed over for promotion.
3.  Maintain your integrity and testimony by working hard for your employer, whether it is seen and recognized ... or not.  That old expression, "When the cat's away, the mice will play", should not be in your cubicle.  Be deserving of your employer's trust.  If he/she does not trust you, that Savior you talk about won't be trusted either.  Think about the negative implications of that!
4.  Ultimately, you are working for the Lord.  So, be enthusiastic about your work!
5.  Have a servant's heart.  Don't think that your job is "better" than anyone else's or more important.  A healthy work culture values each person's work as integral to the success of the whole.

How to be a great "boss":
1.  Remember that, just because you are in a position of authority, God is ultimately your "Master".
Do all your leading as unto Him, remembering that if you don't earn your employees' respect and trust, they will view your Lord unfavorably.
2.  Treat your employees with consideration, compassion and fairness.
3.  See number 5 above.  God does not "play favorites"; neither should you.

Ecclesiastes 3:9&13 says this:

What benefit can a worker gain from his toil? ...that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.

The work He has given to each of us is a precious gift.  May we each enjoy it and gain benefit from it!

Father God, thank you for the work you give each of us, Your children, to do.  All of us have been tasked by You with spreading the gospel in some way.  I pray that that command will line up with our world of work, so that we can do both simultaneously, so that one is not in conflict with the other.  And, I especially pray for those, Your children, who find themselves in such an unenviable position, where their bread-earning occupations are in conflict with Your spiritual callings on their lives.  I pray that you would open doors for them Lord, in order to reconcile the two competing priorities. Holy Spirit, show them the way!  In Jesus' name, amen.

Source:

1   http://www.jesuscentral.com/ji/historical-jesus/jesus-firstcenturycontext.php

Moving Rhythmically and Easily

Speaking as a parent, I'd say one of the biggest heartbreaks is when your children live in alienation from each other.  When they are small, you expect a fair amount of fracas ... because they are immature; they are children! Each one is behaving selfishly, wanting his or her own way.  A former pastor used to say that anyone who has children has no trouble believing in the concept of "original sin"!

As children grow and mature, they learn how to behave unselfishly within the family; or, at least, they should.  I was thinking of this as I read today's passage, Ephesians 4:1-16.  Look specifically today at verses 13-16 (The Message).

...{Jesus, the One} working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

14-16 No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

God is our Father, and I do love the aspect of His character that parents us, His children.  (More than one blog post could be written about that, but I will refrain and restrain myself for now, haha!)  Paul uses this illustration to describe unity within the church of Jesus Christ.

I have noticed a troubling trend in the local churches in my part of the world.  A member gets upset about something and leaves. (Sometimes this is because an "imposter" has caused division and other times not.) Often, there is no attempt by the member to dig deeper and find a solution to the problem, because "the grass looks greener" elsewhere.  By the same token, the attitude within the church being left is lackadaisical and prideful, if you can imagine such a combination.  At first, there is hurt and offense that the brother or sister would consider leaving, and that morphs into a sort of stubborn pride that prevents them from reaching out to say, "Wait a minute...let's try to work this out."  Church members are seen, by and large, as expendable.  And, you have a "church divorce".

Other times, this pridefulness manifests as a critical spirit in the church. (And, if your mind just now went to one of your Christian brothers or sisters, well, then, you'd just better hold up and check your own heart.  As the current commercial says, "Check yo'self, Rodney!")
Listen, brother or sister, your local church was not established by the Lord to give you everything you want or to let you have your preferences all the time!  That is not its purpose!  But, sometimes, unless a dear brother or sister gets his or her way, out the door they go.  (You know I am not talking about confronting legitimate major doctrinal heresies, but about minor preferences.)

Focusing on Christ, our Unifier, is key.  When we begin to focus on ourselves and on our differences and/or on others' faults, we move the focus off of Jesus, don't we?  Humility and discipline (as mentioned in 4:3) take the nearest route out the back door.  We stop exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  We wander off the path of our individual calling, to chase some sort of self-gratifying desire.

This prideful behavior breaks God our Father's heart (Eph. 4:30) because it is an example of "prolonged infancy" - - baby Christian behavior.  Even those who are mature in the faith can exhibit it from time to time - - this includes "yours truly".  The point is that we need to be watchful and wary of it, so that "imposters, wolves in the sheep pen" can be called out ... so that our local bodies of believers can "move rhythmically and easily, efficient and graceful" with each other, as we exercise our spiritual gifts.

Look at today's picture.  Isn't that a beautiful scene?  Young and old, celebrating together, some dancing, some clapping, some singing, some smiling, one with hands raised ... among the many expressing themselves differently, we see unity.

Paul's admonition does not only apply to local groups of Christians, but also to culturally disparate groups of believers around the world.  Each locale has its own peculiar challenges, as well as customs.  Here's one example of a culture juxtaposition:  In many countries, it is accepted practice for a nursing mother to nurse her infant anywhere, under any circumstances.  I once witnessed a nursing mother nurse her baby as the gospel was being presented to her by a group of men.  Many in my country would find that behavior on her part so totally inappropriate that it would cause disunity. In a similar vein, behavior in church services has wildly different standards and appearances around the world.  But, unless something in scripture is being violated ... let's retain our brotherhood and sisterhood ... our robust love for one another, so that the world will see this magnificent brotherly love, and marvel at our Savior.

Paul urged believers well in verses 1-3 (NET):

I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Father, we want to show this lost and broken world Your beautiful Son, Jesus, who created all that is, who became our Savior, who is the Source of everything we are as redeemed souls.  Protect us from wolves, heavenly Father, namely those divisive persons who pretend to be Yours but who are not, who stroke their own pride rather than building up others for the sake of Your kingdom.  Give us discernment and humility, Lord, because it does not "come naturally".  Grow us up in You, Lord Jesus!  Nourish us, so that we will be healthy, robustly healthy, bursting with Your love!  In Jesus' name, amen.

Tired ... So Tired

Tonight is the night of the 2016 presidential Iowa caucuses, and God knows there are a lot of tired politicians and political hacks out there.  Most of them are laboring, trying to deliver a victory for their candidate, because they believe he or she is the very best person for the job.  Tonight is when "the rubber" begins to meet "the road".  It is the first opportunity for a victory, in a long line of opportunities.

Today's passage, from Galatians 6:9-10, is about what to do when you are tired to very depths of your soul.  Check it!

9-10 So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.   

(The Message version)

In verse 9, a key point is getting tired from "doing good".  What does that mean?  If you are a Christian, you have a "calling" of some type, from your Savior, your God.  You may not believe this to be true, because Satan has duped believers into accepting that there is the clergy (the professional godly people - - whuuuuuh?) and  - - here's your $10,000 word-of-the-day - - the laity (the people in the pews).  But, bottom line, Jesus did not issue The Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20) to only the clergy.  At the very least, we are ALL commanded to share the gospel, in some way or the other, as God gives us opportunities to do so.  And, He does.

So, Paul is assuming here, rightly so, that Christians will be carrying out the "callings" God has placed on their lives.  A parent's calling is obviously to raise her or his children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord", for example (Eph. 6:4).  A fellow believer said recently that if a believer is not fulfilling his calling, he is walking in disobedience.

No matter what calling God has given to you, you WILL get tired, and discouraged, and disgusted, and scared.  You will get angry at God and want to absolutely GIVE.UP.
I'm sorry to tell you - - - this is to be expected.
Why?
Because you are in a spiritual war.  Anytime and every time you yield yourself to the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill your calling, you will be opposed by the enemy, the evil one who is literally "hell-bent" on your destruction.
Isn't that just all flowers and bells?

Fortunately (oh yes!), God gives us His promise at the end of verse 9.  Don't quit.  Don't give up.
If you persevere, you will reap a harvest, a "good crop".

Some of you aren't "seeing" that right now.  But, look.  You aren't promised to see it.  Sorry!

I think of Vincent Van Gogh, who sold exactly one of his paintings during his lifetime1.  Yet, if you are at all educated, you've heard of the art of Vincent Van Gogh!  In fact, go google "Van Gogh at the Museum" and watch that vid, to get a sense of what I'm talking about here.  And, Van Gogh was a pagan, if I remember correctly!  How much more will our God do with our willing, persevering hearts if we will only trust Him and believe?  How much more!

The Scriptures say, "at the right time".  That's not your time.  That's on God's timetable.  HE gets to decide when "the right time" is.  Unfortunately, some of us play right into Satan's hands over timing. We get so discouraged at a lack of results, we just "chuck it all".  We do not live in a patient society. We live in a world where everything is instant, instant, right NOW!  Therefore, we expect our ministries to be the same.

So, let's persevere, people of God.  Go to Jesus when you are weary, and He will give you rest (Matt. 11:29).  Then, after He has restored your soul, get back out there, as Galatians 6:10 says.  "The test of your character is what it takes to stop you.  Finish the job!"1 Every time you get the chance, bless the people of God as well as the unsaved around you.  Be open-handed!  Give of your heart.  Give of your time. Give of yourself to advance Christ's kingdom.  Nothing ever given to God was ever wasted, nor will it ever be!

Father, even You rested, on the seventh day.  It is normal for us to get tired, in this war in which your gospel of salvation is continually opposed.  Thank you for being our source of rejuvenation, comfort and rest!  Thank you for equipping us because, you don't call the equipped; you equip the called! Help us to remember that and, like Winston Churchill said, "Never, never, never give up." as we keep walking in faith, fulfilling the calling you have given each of us.  In Jesus' name, amen
.
Source:

1  http://painting.about.com/od/paintingtrivia/f/van-gogh-first-painting-sold.htm
2  http://strader.cehd.tamu.edu/BobJonesQuotes.php

Paul's Calling

Good morning!

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.