Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, dear ones.

I came back home from a portable mill job due to a little breakdown. I’ve now replaced the worn-out bearing of one of my track rollers and now need to get back to reinstall it and carry on with the milling. All kinds of other things have developed since my return to the home base. I decided to send this off before I take off back to the mill.

Becki agreed to run an errand for me—connecting with Andy who is working a while in Salem. He has prepared a special piece of graphics for me to repair a sign job that has a mistaken email address. Hope to get that finalized this evening.

Back to the mill. Blessings on your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

I have to appreciate the practical nature of Paul’s training program for young pastors like Titus. His instructions are appropriate for all church workers—indeed for all believers. He not only establishes qualifications for WHO should be involved in leadership, but WHAT they are to teach, along with practical guidelines on HOW to put into action what is taught.

Let’s look again at the whole of verse 8: “This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.”

Stress what things? In the verses just preceding, Paul presents a brief sketch of our Salvation. We all used to be messed up and hopeless. Then God graciously offered a solution that could never be purchased by any “righteous things we have done” (3:5). So, NO, our enlistment for Salvation is not determined by good works, but God forbid that we overlook the fact that we are to carry on from there with good works—doing what is GOOD by the standards of God’s Word. THIS is the main goal and theme that Christian ministry should stress. THIS is the very means by which the Gospel is demonstrated and communicated. There is a whole world out there looking on to see if what we have represents any discernible value for them. THIS theme appears three times in this chapter alone. I’ve already cited one in verse 8. Let’s also quote verses 1 and 14: “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good” (v.1). “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives” (v. 14).

Let’s also take note of the same theme as reflected in verses 11 and 12 of the preceding chapter (even though this is repetitious): “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.”

Finally, let’s have nothing to do with the superficial and hypocritical lifestyle that Paul describes earlier in the first chapter: “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him” (1:16)—their actions and behavior are not in line with their claims.

Main lesson to be stressed: YOUR BEHAVIOR AND LIFESTYLE DEFINE YOUR FAITH AND DIRECTLY AFFECT YOUR REPRESNTATION OF THE GOSPEL.