Pray Psalm 82.1.
God stands in the congregation of the mighty;
He judges among the gods.

Read Titus 1.4, 5

Prepare.
1. How did Paul regard Titus? Why?

2. What did Paul desire for him? Why do these matter?

Meditate.
ˆPaul had evidently led Titus to the Lord, or, at least, was primarily responsible for his growing in the grace and knowledge of the Savior. Titus was his true child in the faith; thus, he must be prepared to receive and act on the instructions of his father. 

While this letter contains many instructions, exhortations, and commands, its purpose is to bring the grace of the Lord and His glorious peace to Titus and those whom he had been left on Crete to serve. There is no contradiction between commandments – or law – and grace. Obedience to God’s Law, and to the commands of the apostles as they interpret that Law, is the key to knowing the grace and peace of the Lord. Grace and peace prevail in churches when proper order is established and maintained under the oversight of loving elders. 

See how far-reaching is the grace of God: A typical letter during this period began with, “Greetings and good health.” Sounds like mere wishful thinking compared to “Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior” (my translation). The Kingdom makes all things new, even down to the mundane details of writing letters! 

In the time of the Kingdom, believers are called to reconsider everything they do in the light of God’s Law, His promised (v. 2) grace and peace, and His order (v. 5) for building His Church. To the extent that we lose sight of any of these, we forfeit or postpone the blessings God wants so earnestly to give us. 

Paul had previously instructed Titus in the importance of having elders (or bishops – overseers, v. 7) in every church; now he was simply following-up on that instruction to help ensure that grace and peace would be the happy possession of all the believers in Crete. How we structure our churches for growth and ministry is not a matter of preference or efficiency. God has revealed the order by which He intends to build His Church. In this epistle, Paul is reminding Titus – and us – of what God expects of His people and their shepherds.

Reflect.
1. What is our “common faith” (v. 4)? How would you explain this to an unbelieving friend?

2. Why are “grace and peace” not merely wishful thinking for believers? Why is it important to follow Paul in extending these blessings to our fellow believers?

3. God has an order by which He intends to build His church, and elders are a key component of that order. Why? What do elders do that is so important to building the church?

Paul here shows that at this time “elders” and “bishops” were interchangeable and that some were put in charge of towns, some of whole regions. These latter became the bishops of later times. Theodore of Mopsuestia (350-428), Commentary on Titus

Lord, let me be an agent of Your grace and peace today as I…

Pray Psalm 82.1, 2.
As you come before the Lord, ask Him to search the depths of your soul, to judge all your thoughts and attitudes, and to expose any sin or wrongdoing from which you need to repent. Then pray the same for your church leaders.

Sing Psalm 82.1, 2.
Psalm 82.1, 2 (Aurelia: The Church’s One Foundation)
God stands amid His people to judge their rulers all.
How long will they oppress those who on His favor call?
How long will they the wicked show partiality,
And treat with scorn the meek who their proper care should be?

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).