Titus 2 DEVO: Relationships, Discipleship & Disciplined Living

Chapter 2:
In this chapter, Paul outlines how the baton of faith is to be passed on – from the older teaching the younger! As a pastor, Paul calls Titus to “…teach what is in accord to sound doctrine.” The teachings of the Bible will cause behavior to be in line with belief and Titus is to teach God’s Word! Then he gives examples of how this works:
The older men teach the younger men: ”…set them an example….doing good…be self-controlled …show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech…”
The older women teach the younger women: “…to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine…to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands…”
Slaves be subject to your masters: “…in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted…”
Paul concludes by telling Titus, that because of God’s incredible grace, he needs to discipline himself to “…say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” This will take both encouragement and rebuke, but do it regardless of how people treat you.
SO WHAT?!
*As a pastor, letters written to pastors (Titus and 1&2 Timothy) especially grab my attention! I am to both model and teach these things. But they are not just true of pastors but of all believers – you and me! How are you & I passing on the baton of truth to the next generation?
*In what area is it hard for you to say “No” to? Materialism? Entertainment? Sensuality? Living in America we can have whatever we want, wherever we want it and whenever we want it! But the American way is not the Biblical way. It takes discipline & self-control to say no at times. And this character quality needs to be both taught & modeled by YOU & ME!