Bible Verse of the Day Monday May 8th, 2023

Titus 2:2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

The Epistle of Titus was a letter from the apostle Paul to Titus to show him what he should be teaching and how he should live as a church leader. There is no mention of Titus in the book of Acts; however, we can learn much about Titus through Paul’s writings in other books of the New Testament. Titus was a Gentile by birth (Galatians 2:3); he also went along with Paul on his visit to Jerusalem during the controversy over circumcision and salvation by following the Law (Galatians 2:1-5).

Paul sent Titus to Corinth to see how the church received his first letter (1 Corinthians). Paul and Titus reconnected in Macedonia, where Paul learned how the Corinthians received his first letter and Titus himself. (2 Corinthians 2:12-13; 7:5-6; 13-15). Paul sent Titus and others back to Corinth with his second letter to the Corinthians. At the writing of the Epistle of Titus, Paul had left Titus in Crete to Shepard the new church there (Titus 1:5).

Titus was a young man who would teach some older men during his ministry in Crete. Titus needed the wisdom that Paul could impart to him not to offend these older men. So likewise, more mature Christians, both men and women, are responsible in Christ to help younger brothers and sisters. Help them understand the Word of God and how to live a life pleasing to Christ Jesus and be a good reflector for the Light of Christ to shine on a lost world. A large part of this charge that more mature Christians have in Christ is to be an example, to let our light shine before others so that they may see Christ Jesus in us (Matthew 5:16).

One more point of clarification, when we talk of more mature Christians, this does not necessarily point to the number of years we have been on the earth or the number of years we have been a Christian. Each believer in Christ matures at different periods. Paul was directing this letter to his fellow worker in Christ, Titus, but when Christ Jesus gave Paul these words, He (Jesus) knew that you and I would be reading this someday and we would need this wisdom.

To have a grip on our temperance; to respect others and to be worthy of the respect of others; to maintain self-control; to understand that our faith is based on the power of God and not on our strength. For us to possess unconditional Christian love and commit to the long haul in our walk with Christ Jesus, endurance is the key. However, we cannot maintain this endurance or have a grip on any of the virtues mentioned above on our own; it only comes through our trust and faith in Christ and Him alone (John 15:5-6; Philippians 4:13).