Category Archives: Titus

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Self-Control — Get A Grip

Just Say No

SYNOPSIS: In response to the salvation we received through the cross and will receive when Christ returns, God’s grace teaches us to live self-controlled lives in the present moment. What is self-control? It’s mastering our moods, impulses, and behaviors. It’s not just delayed gratification, like waiting two minutes in the fast-food drive-thru instead of one, it may mean giving something up completely to instead direct my physical desires for God’s glory and not my own gratification. It’s taking care of my body in a God-honoring way. It’s biting my tongue instead of making that sarcastic remark. It’s saying no to what I want but isn’t good for me. It’s making God’s long-range purposes for me more important than what looks and feels good right now. It’s taking dominion over my desires. And the grand prize for developing self-control now will be heaven’s reward and God’s recognition in the life to come.

Project 52—Memorize:
Titus 2:11-13

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

In response to the salvation we received through the cross and in light of the salvation we will receive when Christ returns, the Apostle Paul says that God’s grace teaches us to live self-controlled lives.

What does he mean by self-control? It means to master your moods, impulses, and behavior. It is not simply speaking of delayed gratification, which in our culture, means waiting two minutes in the fast-food drive-thru instead of one, or giving up Coke for Lent—and drinking Pepsi instead. Biblical self-control may mean giving something up completely. It is the ability to direct my physical desires to fulfill God’s purposes, instead of using them for my own personal gratification. It means taking care of my body in a way that honors God. It means biting my tongue instead of making that sarcastic remark. It means saying  “No” to something I want but isn’t good for me. It means making God’s long-range purposes for my life more important than what looks and feels good right now. It means to take dominion over my desires.

The root word for self-control meant to “take hold of something” or literally, to “get a grip.”  In whatever particular area of life we struggle, Paul would say, “Get a grip on this thing!”  Don’t let anything be out of your control; bring every area of your life under the supervision of the Holy Spirit. Paul talked about bringing his entire body under control.  He even said he would bring every thought captive. That is what God wants of us, too!

There is no area of life where we’re exempt from developing self-control. We need to blanket our lives with this fruit so that the devil can’t get a foothold and distract us from the life God desires us to live.

Now one piece of advice for cultivating self-control in that particularly resistant area of your life is simply this: Start small!

The old adage is true, “you can eat an elephant—one bite at a time!”  Don’t get overwhelmed with how far you may have to go. God is ready to give you just the right amount of grace and strength to gain mastery over that area right now.  He doesn’t give you a reservoir of grace and strength for a month or a year from now. But like the manna in the desert, he gives you the right amount for today. And tomorrow, he’ll give you the right amount for that day. Do what you can today. You don’t become a spiritual giant by praying an hour a day; you begin by praying five minutes a day. Or maybe three or two. You just begin spending time with God. So it is with any area of self-control. Just begin by identifying your area, ask God for help and then begin to take resolute action steps to gain mastery.

Now here is the good news: There is a prize for us who run the race and train our bodies and discipline our minds and partner with the Spirit to develop the fruit of self-control. It is the reward of heaven and recognition of God in the life to come. It is to have God’s final approval that will make every effort you put forth now to develop self-control, as painful and sacrificial as it may be, worth it in the end.

So go ahead and get a grip!

“Prudent, cautious self-control is wisdom’s root” ~Robert Burns

Reflect and Apply: Offer this prayer as you begin to exercise self-control over your area of resistance: “Father, today I would like to take some small steps to bring self-control to my life. By your strength, may the self-control that I exert over my flesh be pleasing to you and take me a step closer to a life full devotion to you.”

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Self-Control–Get a Grip

Reflect:
Titus 2:11-13

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

In response to the salvation we received through the cross and in light of the salvation we will receive when Christ returns, the Apostle Paul says that God’s grace teaches us to live self-controlled lives.

What does the he mean by self-control? It means to master your moods, impulses and behavior. It is not simply speaking of delayed gratification, which in our culture, means waiting two minutes in the fast food drive-thru instead of one, or giving up Coke for Lent—and drinking Pepsi instead. Biblical self-control may mean giving something up completely. It is the ability to direct my physical desires to fulfill God’s purposes, instead of using them for my own personal gratification. It means taking care of my body in a way that honors God. It means biting my tongue instead of making that sarcastic remark. It means saying “No” to something I want but isn’t good for me. It means making God’s long-range purposes for my life more important than what looks and feels good right now. It means to take dominion over my desires.

What does the Bible mean when it calls us to live self-controlled lives? It means to master your moods, impulses and behavior. It is not simply speaking of delayed gratification, which in our culture, means waiting two minutes in the fast food drive-thru instead of one, or giving up Coke for Lent—and drinking Pepsi instead. Biblical self-control may mean giving something up completely. It is the ability to direct my physical desires to fulfill God’s purposes, instead of using them for my own personal gratification. It means taking care of my body in a way that honors God. It means biting my tongue instead of making that sarcastic remark. It means saying “No” to something I want but isn’t good for me. It means making God’s long-range purposes for my life more important than what looks and feels good right now. It means to take dominion over my desires. It means even taking every thought captive. That is what God wants of you and me–and in light of what He has planned for those who master self-control, the effort will be well worth it!

The root word for self-control meant to “take hold of something” or literally, to “get a grip.” In whatever particular area of life we struggle, Paul would say, “Get a grip on this thing!” Don’t let anything be out of your control; bring every area of your life under the supervision of the Holy Spirit. Paul talked about bringing his entire body under control. He even said he would bring every thought captive. That is what God wants of us, too!

There is no area of life where we’re exempt from developing self-control. We need to blanket our lives with this fruit so that the devil can’t get a foothold and distract us from the life God desires us to live.

Now one piece of advice for for cultivating self-control in that particularly resistant area of your life is simply this: Start small!

The old adage is true, “you can eat an elephant—one bite at a time!” Don’t get overwhelmed with how far you may have to go. God is ready to give you just the right amount of grace and strength to gain mastery over that area right now. He doesn’t give you a reservoir of grace and strength for a month or a year from now. But like the manna in the desert, he gives you the right amount for today. And tomorrow, he’ll give you the right amount for that day. Do what you can today. You don’t become a spiritual giant by praying an hour a day; you begin by praying five minutes a day. Or maybe three or two. You just begin spending time with God. So it is with any area of self-control. Just begin by identifying your area, ask God for help and then begin to take resolute action steps to gain mastery.

Now here is the good news: There is a prize for us who run the race and train our bodies and discipline our minds and partner with the Spirit to develop the fruit of self-control. It is the reward of heaven and recognition of God in the life to come. It is to have God’s final approval that will make every effort you put forth now to develop self-control, as painful and sacrificial as it may be, worth it in the end.

So go ahead and get a grip!

“Prudent, cautious self-control is wisdom’s root” ~Robert Burns

Reflect and Apply: Offer this prayer as you begin to exercise self-control over your area of resistance: “Father, today I would like to take some small steps to bring self-control to my life. By your strength, may the self-control that I exert over my flesh be pleasing to you and take me a step closer to a life full devotion to you.”

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Be Good!

Read Titus 3

“Be ready to do whatever is good…stress these things, so that
those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote
themselves to doing what is good…Our people must
learn to devote themselves to doing what is good.”
(Titus 3:1,8,14)

Thoughts… Paul seems to be pretty insistent that our faith get translated into good—good thoughts, good words, good actions. He was very clear, however, that our good works could never save us—verse five reminds us that: “God saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Nevertheless, the goodness and mercy of God that made our salvation possible must now lead us to demonstrate goodness and mercy through our lives to others.

There seems to be such an emphasis in our day on salvation apart from works, almost as if we are not obligated in any sense to do works. Yet Paul is teaching that authentic salvation is verified by the good that comes from our lives. Salvation is not the result of any good on our part, but our salvation produces good in us and causes good to flow through us.

As Martin Luther pointed out, “Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works.” Stated more forcefully, if good works are not a large part of what makes you who you are, it very well could be that you need to check the authenticity of your salvation.

How are you in the goodness area? Are you ready to do good—is there proactive goodness in your life? Are you devoted to doing good—are you strategically active doing good in this present moment? Are you learning to do good—are you contemplating creative ways to express goodness to the people in your world?

Be good! In light of how good God has been to you, you really ought to be really good!

Prayer… God, you have been so good to me. You saved me when I didn’t deserve it. You’ve blessed me when I haven’t deserved it. You love me, are kind to me, and have provided for my eternity when I don’t deserve that kind of goodness. Now, O Lord, help me to pass on that same kind of goodness through my life to everyone I come in contact with. May people know how good you are by how good I am.

One More Thing… “The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a sunhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines on it.” —C.S. Lewis

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A Great and God-Honoring Life

Read Titus 2

“Let everything you do reflect the integrity and
seriousness of your teaching.”
(Titus 2:7)

Thoughts… The key to stress-free living, an effective witness, and authentic discipleship is the convergence of your beliefs and your behavior. Conversely, the number one source of stress in your life, the single greatest destroyer of your witness, and the thing that impedes your walk with Christ as a disciple as much as anything are incongruent values—when your beliefs don’t match your behavior.

That’s why Paul is challenging Titus to practice what he is preaching. That’s your call as well. If you are going to talk the talk, then you ought to walk the walk. Christ followers who don’t are constantly trying to cover for their incongruent lives, and that’s the primary reason for why they live under so much stress. Likewise, their inconsistent and incongruent living exposes them as hypocrites. When they say one thing but doing another, their witness becomes worthless. Furthermore, the incongruence between their beliefs and their behavior critically damages their discipleship by violating the clear demand of Jesus that “if you love me, do what I say!”

Simply live out in your everyday life what you believe in your heart and you will live a great and God-honoring life. You will, as Paul says in verse 10, make your belief in God your Savior “attractive in every way.”

  • If you believe in holiness, put off sinful living.
  • If you believe in justice, practice fairness in all you do.
  • If you believe in self-control, don’t get drunk.
  • If you believe in purity, stay away from pornography.
  • It you love the lost, witness to them.
  • If you love the poor, serve them.
  • If you love the body of Christ, show up to church.
  • If you love God, start tithing.
  • If you love your spouse, show it.
  • If you love your parents, honor them.
  • If you love your neighbor, don’t gossip about them.
  • If you love yourself, eat right and exercise a little.
  • If you love the Bible, read it.
  • If you want less stress, live out your beliefs.
  • If you want to point people to Christ, practice what you preach.
  • If you want to be a disciple, do what Jesus commanded.

In everything you do, reflect the convergence of your belief with your behavior!

Prayer… Dear Lord, give me the grace and strength to do what I believe. May there always be integrity in my walk and congruence between my beliefs and my behavior. In everything I do, may I be pleasing to you and a living witness to a lost world of a loving God.

One More Thing… “I cannot find language of sufficient energy to convey my sense of the sacredness of private integrity.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Bloom Where You Are Planted

Read Titus 1

“The reason I left you in Crete was that you might
straighten out what was left unfinished…”
(Titus 1:5)

Thoughts… Think about this: The reason you may want to leave something may be the very reason God has you in there in the first place.

It may be your job or church or a relationship or a place of ministry. Perhaps the going is tough and you want to get going. You’ve come to realize that the grass would be greener somewhere else, and you’d rather be there. Life would be a lot easier if you just packed up and left—got a new job, found a new church, ditched that relationship for a healthier one, or turned in your resignation from that ministry commitment.

That’s what Titus wanted to do. Paul had left him on the Island of Crete to pastor the church there. Apparently, the Cretan Community Church was full of—well, Cretans. They were neither the easiest people to shepherd nor the easiest church to lead, and Titus had informed Paul that since it wasn’t going so well, he was ready for a better assignment.

But Paul knew it was a tough place. He knew that when he assigned Crete to Titus. He even admitted to this young pastor here in chapter one, “Even one of their own prophets has said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.’” And that was on a good day!

However, that was the very reason they needed a pastor. That was the purpose for which Titus was sent—to straighten that very mess out. That was this young minister’s raison d’etre—his reason for being there. Paul says, in effect, “buck up, buddy, that’s why I left you there. Bloom where I’ve planted you. Straighten out them out, then we’ll talk.

The Cretens needed someone like Titus who had the ministry of straightening things out. And it may be God has given you that ministry, too. Maybe that’s why you are where you are, your raison d’être. Perhaps the very thing that is tempting you to leave your job or relationship or church or the ministry you are in is exactly why God has placed you there.

Don’t be so quick to run! Bloom where God has planted you. You may be the only rose those thorns will ever know.

Prayer… Father, may I never be too quick to run. May I be faithful to the call you have placed upon me. Help me to see when the difficulties I am facing are the very reasons why I need to stay put and stay faithful.

One More Thing… “The best way out is always through.” —Robert Frost

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Do-Gooder

Read Titus 3:1-15

“Be ready to do whatever is good…stress these things, so that
those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote
themselves to doing what is good…Our people must
learn to devote themselves to doing what is good.”
(Titus 3:1,8,14)

Thoughts… Paul seems to be pretty insistent that our faith get translated into good—good thoughts, good words, good actions. He was very clear, however, that our good works could never save us—verse five reminds us that: “God saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Nevertheless, the goodness and mercy of God that made our salvation possible must now lead us to demonstrate goodness and mercy through our lives to others.

There seems to be such an emphasis in our day on salvation apart from works, almost as if we are not obligated in any sense to do works. Yet Paul is teaching that authentic salvation is verified by the good that comes from our lives. Salvation is not the result of any good on our part, but our salvation produces good in us and causes good to flow through us.

As Martin Luther pointed out, “Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works.” Stated more forcefully, if good works are not a large part of what makes you you, it very well could be that you need to check the authenticity of your salvation.

How are you in the goodness area? Are you ready to do good—is there proactive goodness in your life? Are you devoted to doing good—is there strategic goodness in your life? Are you learning to do good—is there creative goodness in your life?

There should be! In light of how good God has been to you, you really ought to be a do-gooder!

Prayer… God, you have been so good to me. You saved me when I didn’t deserve it. You’ve blessed me when I haven’t deserved it. You love me, are kind to me, and have provided for my eternity when I don’t deserve that kind of goodness. Now, O Lord, help me to pass on that same kind of goodness through my life to everyone I come in contact with. May people know how good you are by how good I am.

One More Thing… “The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a sunhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the son shines on it.” —C.S. Lewis

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Congruent Values

Read Titus 2:1-15

“Let everything you do reflect the integrity and
seriousness of your teaching.”
(Titus 2:7)

Thoughts… The key to stress-free living, an effective witness, and authentic discipleship is the convergence of your beliefs and your behavior. Conversely, the number one source of stress in your life, the single greatest destroyer of your witness, and the thing that impedes your walk with Christ as a disciple as much as anything are incongruent values—when your beliefs don’t match your behavior.

That’s why Paul is challenging Titus to practice what he is preaching. That’s your call as well—if you are going to talk the talk, then you ought to walk the walk. Christ followers who don’t are constantly trying to cover their incongruent lives—that’s why they live under so much stress. Likewise, they expose themselves as hypocrites, saying one thing but doing another—that’s why their witness is worthless. Furthermore, the incongruence between their beliefs and their behavior violates the demands of Jesus that “if you love me, do what I say”—that’s why their discipleship is damaged.

Simply live out in your everyday life what you believe in your heart and you will live a great and God-honoring life. You will, as Paul says in verse 10, make your belief in God your Savior “attractive in every way.”

  • If you believe in holiness, put off sinful living.
  • If you believe in justice, practice fairness in all you do.
  • If you believe in self-control, don’t get drunk.
  • If you believe in purity, stay away from pornography.
  • It you love the lost, witness to them.
  • If you love the poor, serve them.
  • If you love the body of Christ, show up to church.
  • If you love God, start tithing.
  • If you love your spouse, show it.
  • If you love your parents, honor them.
  • If you love your neighbor, don’t gossip about them.
  • If you love yourself, eat right and exercise a little.
  • If you love the Bible, read it.
  • If you want less stress, live out your beliefs.
  • If you want to point people to Christ, practice what you preach.
  • If you want to be a disciple, do what Jesus commanded.

“Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness
of your doctrine.” (Titus 2:7)

Prayer… Dear Lord, give me the grace and strength to do what I believe. May there always be integrity in my walk and congruence between my beliefs and my behavior. In everything I do, may I be pleasing to you and a living witness to a lost world of a loving God.

One More Thing… “I cannot find language of sufficient energy to convey my sense of the sacredness of private integrity” —Ralph Waldo Emerson