Category: First Things First Devotional

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. Titus 3:1-2 HCSB

In America, there is a great divide among the political parties. We have Democrats, Republicans, Tea Party, and Independents. All have different beliefs and principles. We may not agree with some of the actions and decisions of those in authority if they are from a different party than our own political party, but God calls for all of us to be submissive to rulers and authorities.

Paul’s call to submission is based on the Greek military word “hupotasso” which literally means, “to place under.” This term is used by Paul in some of his other letters to represent the relationship among believers, a wife to a husband, and a slave or employee to a master or employer. Being submissive to government does not mean we agree with everything done by the government. The only time to disobey the government is when asked to do something that is in direct conflict with God’s Word.

Challenge: Evidently some had fought with the government and slandered officials. Paul called on the people to be kind and show gentleness to all people (including government officials). It is easy for us to talk negatively about government officials when we do not agree with decisions they are making. As believers we should set a good example by obeying government officials even when we don’t agree with what is being done.

He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works. Titus 2:14 HCSB

Some organizations have used a fun game as a fund raiser. They “capture” someone and put them in jail or a holding cell. The captured person must then call some friends to encourage them to give money to the organization. When a certain amount of money has been raised, the person is released. In essence, the friends of the captured person have paid the price to get him out of jail.

Paul reminds us that Jesus has paid the price or redeemed us from our sinful life. Redeemed means to buy something or someone back. This was a term that was commonly used when a person was purchased out of slavery. We are all slaves to our sinful nature, but Jesus Christ has redeemed us by paying the penalty for our sins. It is through Christ’s death on the cross that all who believe in Him can have forgiveness of their sins and gain eternal life.

Challenge: Praise God that He provided a way for your sins to be forgiven. Thank Him for giving His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in your place. Give thanks that you have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Listen to the old hymn by Fanny Crosby, “Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It” on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm7sy-hmYnw.

Slaves are to be submissive to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything. Titus 2:9-10 HCSB

Statistic Brain reports that annually employees steal over 50 billion dollars from United States businesses. Seventy-five percent of employees have stolen at least once from their employers. Employee theft causes more shrinkage of inventory than shoplifting. Thirty-three percent of all business bankruptcies are caused by employee theft. What has happened to working for an honest day’s wage? These figures are staggering.

Slavery was very common in Paul’s day and a natural part of society. Paul was not condoning slavery but was addressing how slaves should act toward their masters. Some slaves were believers. All believers, slave and free, were to be good employees and honest in all of their dealings with their masters or employers.

Challenge: Employers should be loving and responsible in their conduct toward employees, while employees should always do their best work and be trustworthy. Treat your employer with respect and honor. Is your employer pleased with your behavior? Does your behavior at work honor Christ and set a good example for others?

In the same way, encourage the young men to be self-controlled in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching. Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us. Titus 2:6-8 HCSB

We live in a society that does not seem to value self-control. The attitude seems to be one self-indulgence on every level. It has never been easier to lose control of self and purchase on credit, supersize a fast food meal, or satisfy lust than in our world today. The end result of such lack of self-discipline is a life absent of integrity and dignity.

After addressing the women in the previous verses, Paul then turned his attention to the men. In the first verse Paul addressed all of the men and instructed them to be self-controlled in everything they did. In the last two verses he challenged Titus to lead the way by setting a good example for the other men. In Paul’s time men were viewed as leaders of the family. Even today, the man is usually considered to be the leader of his family, therefore it is important for men to set a good example for their families. They should live a life of integrity and dignity.

Challenge: Are you setting a good example for others? Would others say that you are self-controlled? Is integrity one of your values? Ask God to help you to become the man you should be and to set a good example for your family.

In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good, so they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, kind, and submissive to their husbands, so that God’s message will not be slandered. Titus 2:3-5 HCSB

We just celebrated Mother’s Day, a day to honor our mothers. My mother is 89 years old and just came home from spending 16 days in the hospital. Because of her physical condition we could not go out to eat as is our usual custom for Mother’s Day. Instead, we brought food in and ate here at home. Many people take their mother out to lunch as a way of telling her that she is loved and appreciated for all she does.

These verses from Paul challenge older women to set the example for younger women. Younger Christian women should learn from the older Christian women how to have harmony in the home. Women should learn how to love their husbands and children, be self-controlled, pure, kind, and homemakers by watching the example set by older women.

Challenge: Thank God for the older women that He has placed in your life. Tell your mother how much you appreciate and love her. If you are a woman, set an example for younger women by showing them how they can live by God’s standards and have harmony in their homes.

But you must say the things that are consistent with sound teaching. Older men are to be level headed, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love and endurance. Titus 2:1-2 HCSB

Do older people really matter? In today’s culture it seems that older people are not as valued as they once were. It would seem that businesses would look to older people because of their experience and wisdom, but in most situations people over 60 years of age are not considered for employment. Most businesses want employees who are younger and more energetic even though they do not have experience.

In Biblical times older people were respected and revered because of their wisdom. They were expected to teach the younger people. Paul said in these two verses that older people should set a good example by refusing to compromise and through living by God’s standards.

Challenge: Take a stand for older people. Ask for advice and direction from senior adults. Look for ways to honor the older people in your life. Pray for the older people who have had an influence in your life.

They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work. Titus 1:16 HCSB

There was a man who professed to know Christ and said he was a Christian but his crude behavior and speech made me question if he really was a Christian. Only God can judge the heart of each person and determine if he or she is saved. There are several Scriptures that teach us that our actions should reflect our beliefs. We are not saved by our works but if we have accepted Christ into our lives and have made Him Lord, we should seek to follow His teachings and live in a way that would bring honor and glory to Him.

In this Scripture Paul warned of people who act religious and profess to know God, but conduct themselves in detestable ways. They disobey God’s Word. I have heard it said many times that one should practice what he preaches. The implication is that if you say something or teach something, you ought to live in a way that reflects that teaching or belief. Sadly, there are many who profess Christ but their lives fail to reflect any change in behavior or attitude.

Challenge: Do you practice what you preach? Do your actions and attitudes deny Christ? Do they reflect the same attitudes and behaviors that Jesus would have? Pray that you would always represent Christ and that others would see Jesus in you.

For there are also many rebellious people, full of empty talk and deception, especially those from Judaism. It is necessary to silence them, they overthrow whole households by teaching what they shouldn’t in order to get money dishonestly. Titus 1:10-11 HCSB

Frequently while traveling in my truck I search for a radio station to enjoy. I hit the radio search button and it begins to search the airways looking for a radio signal. It then moves from country to rock, from classical to talk radio, from sports to preaching before finally settling on Christian music. I then hit the button one more time to cause the search to stop. I have found the station to which I want to listen and have in essence silenced the other stations.

Paul encouraged Titus to beware of those who were rebellious and full of empty talk. It is necessary to silence those who are false teachers. These false teachers deceived the people and were seeking to gain monetarily. There are still false teachers today who are seeking to gain by preaching the message of Jesus Christ. We must be discerning and silence those who seek to lead people astray. It is not as easy as pushing the search button and moving on to the next person.

Challenge: Pray that God will give you a discerning heart and mind so you will know who is speaking the truth. Listen to those who can provide sound teaching and silence those who may lead you astray.

For an overseer, as God’s administrator, must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it. Titus 1:7-9 HCSB

My job title is Minister of Education and Administration. The administration side of my job seems to take the majority of my time. There are always purchase orders to approve, bills to pay, financial reports to check, and then there is the job of making sure the buildings are maintained, cleaned, and set up for the next activity. As the administrator, I also have to make sure we are compliant with government regulations and that there are policies in place to determine how we handle certain situations. It is a big job, but I enjoy it.

Paul uses the terminology of “overseer” as another word for “elder”. He goes on to describe the “overseer” as God’s administrator. The “overseer” is responsible for making sure God’s business is taken care of and that things run smoothly. If one is going to be a leader in the church, he should be held to a higher standard than others and should set a good example for others in his speech and behavior.

Challenge: Make a list of the different traits and characteristics of an “elder” or “overseer”. Then rate yourself on a scale of 1-10 on each characteristic with 1 being low and 10 being high. On what areas do you need to work? Ask God to help you become the person He desires you to be and to set a good example for others.

The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town; one who is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children and not accused of wildness or rebellion. Titus 1:1-2 HCSB

I was asked to do a Sunday School training video for my good friend, Bob Mayfield, who is the Sunday School Director for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. This video along with several others was streamed via the internet and people from around Oklahoma and in other states participated in the video training. My video was entitled, “Developing Leaders”. It opened with the words “No Leaders Needed” followed by “This is one sign you will never see in a church. Every church is always in need of leaders.” Since the training video audience was Sunday School leadership, I continued by saying, “A Sunday School will only be as good as its leaders.” The same could be said of the church. Every church needs strong spiritual leaders who can make wise choices for the church.

Paul encouraged Titus to get to work and appoint some elders in every town in Crete, which was a small mountainous island south of Greece in the Mediterranean Sea. The word “elders” actually means “older men”. The older men in any community were looked up to and sought out for advice and direction. It is key to have some strong solid leaders in every church. These leaders set an example by their actions for others and are looked to as spiritual leaders.

Challenge: Depending upon the denomination, you will find different forms of leadership within the church. Some denominations have deacons, some have pastors, some have elders, and some are called to be teachers. Please pray for and support your church leaders. They deserve your complete support and encouragement.