Do you feel overburdened . . . overworked . . . overwhelmed? Nothing is harder to bear than a burden we are not called to carry. While God asks us to bear one another's burdens, HE DOES NOT ASK US to step in and do what people are NOT WILLING TO DO FOR THEMSELVES. And while there are many needs in this world, God does not ask us to meet every one of them.
Are we carrying the load for our children - instead of providing them with the tools to carry their own load? Who will carry it for them after we are gone??? As parents we want our children to be happy - we want to give them what they "want" (material possessions) - we want to entertain them (we don't want them to be bored) - we want them to have great self-esteem. So we load them up with the latest gadgets (toys / technology) and styles (clothes), we provide them with things to do to keep them busy / happy (there's an endless list of what children do on a weekly basis) and we make sure we compliment their tiniest achievements (we want them to feel loved by putting them on a pedestal). These children (hopefully) grow to adulthood. Have we prepared them to become healthy (emotionally, spiritually) responsible contributors to society or have they learned to continue to expect a hand out and need to receive immediate gratification? Do we forget to stop carrying their load and not realize they are no longer children?
Some of the burdens we place on ourselves is by giving a "hand out" instead of a "hand up". A "hand out" enables - it enables the individual to become dependent on you to carry their burden(s) for them. A "hand up" teaches them how to carry their own load. This begins with us - and our offspring. Is it time to unload those burdens and carry the load God has asked of us instead of the loads we have chosen?
Titus was Greek and was converted by Paul (Galatians 2:3). He is mentioned throughout the New Testament as one of Paul’s most trusted assistants. Not just anyone could start a new church in a hostile world, but Titus rose to the challenge. Much of his work was like that of the Apostle Paul’s – dangerous, unpopular, difficult, and tiring. He traveled to meet strangers and introduce them to new ideas, battled the enemy and had threats made against his life.
Crete is a large island in the Mediterranean Sea located 100 miles southeast of Greece. It was known as one of best business centers of the ancient world. The Cretans were prosperous through agriculture and trade. Due to their prosperity they had a great deal of excess. In 1:12, Paul quotes the 600 B.C. Greek poet Epimenides, who wrote, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons.” He does this to contrast their reputation with God’s who was incapable of lying.
Paul probably established a church on the island during a missionary trip, after his first imprisonment in Rome. He left Titus behind because they lacked leadership and false teachers were taking advantage. Paul relied on him to help reestablish that leadership. The early church needed people like Titus. He most likely spent the remainder of his life in Crete.
This is a key letter for church organization and guidelines for elders, pastors and believers. It contains one of the clearest statements of God’s grace in all of the New Testament (2:11-14; 3:3-7).
He Paid The Ransom . . . With His Grace
(Titus 2:11, 12, 13, 14)
I. Concentration: on Receiving Grace.
1. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. (v.11)
2. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age (v.12)
3. While we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (v.13)
4. Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (v.14)
II. Meditation: on Resisting Evil.
1. Paul begins to define the meaning of grace – Jesus came in grace to save all people from their sins and He will come again in glory to reign for all eternity.
2. Having received the grace of God, it is expected we will resist all evil temptations of this world and live godly lives.
3. We continue to be filled with grace while we look for Christ’s return; be prepared.
4. Jesus gave freedom from the death sentence of sin; as we grow in Him He continues to purify us from the influence sin has over all humans.
III. Revelation: on Being Saved.
1. What hope would we have of salvation if God did not give us this gift; none of us could do this on our own – those that think they can are fooling only themselves.
2. Such an amazing gift has been given to all of us – it’s there for the taking; we are called to do our part by resisting evil temptations . . . every day.
3. Make no mistake . . . “God and Savior, Jesus Christ” is one of the strongest statements of the deity of Christ found in the New Testament – on this we can rely!
4. Mark 10:45 should make us realize that we were kidnapped by sin until Jesus came along and paid the ransom for our freedom.
IV. Application: As a Christian, I need to:
1. Be forever in awe of my Lord and the enormity of His gift of grace – nothing I could ever do could be worthy of this magnificent gift; without Him I am nothing – nothing at all.
2. Acknowledge the evil that surrounds me; separate myself from wickedness; do not condone it and certainly don’t allow it to swallow me up.
3. Hold fast to my belief in the Trinity, accept the grace I have been given, work on myself daily to become more in line with who He wants me to be; prepare for “the day”.
4. Praise God for the day He paid the ransom; live my life in preparation for eternity; pray for the salvation of those who don’t “get it”; find ways to help the light of the Lord shine for those I encounter.
- Continue working on your plan
- Read chapters 5 and 7 in your reading book
- Work on your Session 4 questions
- Remember to pray for the prayer requests discussed last night
- Memorize assigned Scripture
- Have a blessed week - don't forget to inventory your "wagon" and ask the Lord to remove the stones He has not added.