by Pastor Rich Carlson

From Macedonia (northern Greece) Paul writes to Titus, whom he left on the island of Crete (south of Greece in the Mediterranean Sea) to pastor the flock of believers. The letter is similar to the one he wrote to Timothy who was pastoring in Ephesus (western Turkey.) It appears that both churches were struggling with three things:

• How best to get organized so they could be most efficient in ministry
• How to combat the evil influences around them
• How to keep commitment to Christ over anything else

As I read the letter, my attention was drawn to that last item, staying committed to Jesus. Here’s what I learned:

The grace of God has been offered to all people (Titus 2:11). No exclusivism here, no room for pride or judgmentalism. Everyone has been offered God’s free gift of salvation.

That offer "teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions" (2:12). That "Just Say No" campaign against drugs a few years ago was nothing new! Paul used it. I stopped at that point and asked myself, Is there any ungodliness in my life that I have not said no to? Are there worldly passions that I have allowed myself to get distracted by? Paul’s solution is that I must live a life of "self-control, uprightness, and godliness." If it’s going to work, then I need to make a daily decision to focus on the good from God at the expense of the bad from this world.

God’s plan is two-fold: to redeem me and to purify me.

He saved me, not because of righteous things I have done, but "because of His mercy" (2:15). I am saved so that I can become an heir of His kingdom having the hope of eternal life (3:7) and so that I may be careful to devote myself to "doing what is good" (3:8). The reason for this second "so that" is earthly and not heavenly. It’s about what to do while I wait for the coming of Jesus—not to earn the coming of Jesus—in order that I can "provide for daily necessities and not  live an unproductive life" (3:14).

I never cease to be amazed at the clarity and focus of God’s word both for understanding the kingdom and the hope that is in me and my life on this earth while I wait for this hope.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.