Thursday October 28

Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Titus 2:12-13 NKJV

The Godly Example of Mature Believers

In this chapter, Paul continues his instructions as Titus seeks to set in order the things lacking in the assembly at Crete. Paul reminds Titus to “speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine” (v. 1), and then gives specific exhortations for the older men, older women, young women, and young men.

Those who are older are spoken to first, since most had been on the pathway of faith for a longer time and should have matured to become a pattern of the way a believer should walk. For those of us who are older, this is a good reminder that the younger brothers and sisters are watching us. Are we setting a good example in the way that we walk and the way that we talk? And to those who are young, remember that those who are younger still are watching you too. There is a good list of instructions in this chapter of Titus for all of us to review. We must take heed to the way we are representing Christ to other believers, as well as to everyone we meet, so that “an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you” (v. 8). May we “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things” (v. 10).

Verse 12 seems to sum it up: “Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Living soberly has to do with our personal lives; living righteously has to do with our interactions with others; living godly is living daily under the all-seeing eye of God, with the desire to please Him. We look to Him, “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (vv. 13-14).

Jacob Redekop