INTRODUCTION

Some people say that it does not really matter what you believe, as long as you do the right thing. However, Paul’s letter to Titus contra­dicts that sort of thinking. He knew that people become what they think, and that everything they do is shaped by what they believe.

That is why he urged Titus, his value associate who was pastoring a church on the island of Crete, to, “speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine” – Titus 2:1. He knew that correct living is a product of correct belief. Error can never lead to god­liness. Only truth produces genuine Christlikeness.

This article has been pub­lished before but we find it relevant today. Please enjoy!

In our world today, many streams of thought lay claim to being “true.” Yet they produce nothing that even approaches the character, integrity, and humility of Christ. That is why believers need to pay careful attention to the teaching they receive. Does it square with Scripture? Does it honour Christ? Does it acknowledge what Paul calls “the truth which accords with godliness” – Titus1:1.

Titus’s Work in Crete

An elder must well thought of for his good life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who are not wild or rebel­lious. An elder must live a blameless life because he is God’s minister. He must not be arrogant or quick-tem­pered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or greedy for money. He must enjoy having guests in his home and must love all that is good. He must live wisely and be fair. He must live a devout and disciplined life. He must have a strong and steadfast belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with right teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.

For there are many who reb­el against right teaching; they engage in useless talk and deceive people. This is, espe­cially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation. They must be silenced. By their wrong teachings, they have already turned whole families away from the truth. Such teachers only want your money. One of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars; they are cruel animals and lazy gluttons.” This is true. So rebuke them as sternly as necessary to make them strong in the faith. They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned their backs on the truth.

Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbeliev­ing, because their minds and consciences are defiled. Such people claim they know God, but they deny Him by the way they live. They are despica­ble and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good – Titus 1:6-16.

Promote Right Teaching

But as for you, promote the kind of living that reflects right teaching. Teach the old­er men to exercise self-con­trol, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have strong faith and be filled with love and patience.

Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that is appropriate for someone serving the Lord. They must not go around speaking evil of others and must not be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and to be pure, to take care of their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.

In the same way, encourage the young men to live wise­ly in all they do. And you, yourself must be an example to them by doing good deeds of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teach­ing. Let your teaching be so correct that it can’t be criti­cised. Then those who want to argue will be ashamed because they won’t have any­thing bad to say about us.

Slaves must obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back or steal, but they must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Sav­iour attractive in every way.

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing sal­vation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful plea­sures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God, while we look forward to that wonderful event when the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing what is right. You must teach these things and encourage your people to do them, correcting them when necessary. You have the authority to do this, so don’t let anyone ignore you or disregard what you say – Titus 2:1-15

Do What Is Good

Remind your people to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. They must not speak evil of anyone, and they must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.

Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. We hated others, and they hated us.

But then God our Saviour showed us His kindness and love. He saved us, not be­cause of the good things we did, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of His great kindness. And now we know we will inherit eternal life. These things I have told you are all true. I want you to insist on them so that everyone who trusts in God will be careful to do good deeds at all the time. These things are good and beneficial for everyone.

Paul’s Final Remarks and Greetings

Do not get involved in fool­ish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels, and fight about obedience to Jewish laws. These kinds of things are useless and a waste of time. If anyone is causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with that person. For people like that have turned away from the truth. They are sinning, and they condemn themselves – Titus 3:1-11.

Stay blessed!

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• Dr Joyce Aryee, the author

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you ate serving

– Colossians 3:23-24. (NIV)

2. Get honest with a few trusted friends (and surround yourself with Godly people).

You might be surprised by how many others have had similar experiences. Not only will a few close friends be able to encourage you or give you some fresh ideas, they will also provide accountability. Discouragement is common in the desert, and having someone check-in with you regularly will help keep you moving in the right direction.

3. Remember that feelings are only a part of any relationship

It’s no different when it comes to your relationship with God. Your feelings, while important, are only part of the picture. When you’re not feeling it, don’t forget that not only have you made a commitment to God – He’s made a commitment to you! And although your feelings indicate otherwise, He’s not going to break His word. He is truly faithful, and He will bring you through any desert. This time is not wasted, and He will use it for some good purpose in your life!

4. Dig deep into God’s Word.

When you’re in the middle of a dry spell, opening your Bible might seem like a waste of time. In fact, it’s exactly what you need, whether it feels like it makes a difference or not. Here’s a few things that might help:

• Enlist accountability. Ask someone to check in on you regularly in order to make sure you’re faithful in your daily devotions.
• Join a Bible study, or start one that challenges and intrigues you. There are so many wonderful studies available-online, with a small group, or individually
• Refresh regularly. A few little bits of encouragement throughout your day can add up to making a big difference. You could spend some time in the morning with your Bible study, read an encouraging devotion or blog post on lunch break, and wrap your day up with a few more moments of Bible study. Figure out what works for you.

5. Pray.

Ask God to show you if there’s anything that is obstructing your relationship. Ask Him to help you through this tough season. Ask Him to give you endurance, encouragement, and to learn through this time.

6. Memorise Scripture

Memorise Scripture that speaks to your season of struggle. Here’s one to start with: “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” (Psalm 34:17-19)

7. Speak truth over yourself.

Similar to memorisation, reminding yourself of the truth is crucial to changing faulty thinking patterns. When you’re tempted to despair that God has left you for good, remind yourself instead that God will never leave you (Isaiah 42:16). When you feel like God’s love for you is gone and over, remind yourself that nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:38-39). Identify what you’re wrestling with, and work on replacing lies with truth.

There have been multiple, “dry seasons” in my walk with God – some long, some short. I can tell you, though, that they have always had a purpose, they have always come to an end, and I am utterly convinced that they happen to every believer at some point or another.

So, if you’re in the Dust Bowl, too…hang in there. Rains in the forecast.

Grace, peace, and we’re in this together,