Titus 2

Pray Psalm 4.6-8.
There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
You have put gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Read Titus 2.9, 10.

Prepare.
1. How do everyday people “adorn the doctrine of God”?

2. Why should bondservants – or slaves or employees – behave as Paul prescribes?

Meditate.
The Gospel of the Kingdom affects every level of society and every area of life. No one who has entered the Kingdom by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ must expect his or her life to remain the same. 

Even slaves, the lowest rung on the Roman social ladder, were to pursue certain concrete expressions of their Christian convictions and Kingdom calling. The word “slaves” could also mean simply “servants” of various kinds; however, it did not exclude those who were owned by others, and thus had no legal standing in the empire. 

Even such as these should work hard to allow their faith in Christ to come to expression in good works, which are the adornments of sound teaching. All believers are “slaves” of Jesus Christ, and thus must strive to relate to those around them in the same manner as house servants to their masters. Thus we show our faith by good works toward those whom God has been pleased to place in our lives, serving them with the love of Christ, which is the outworking of the sound teaching we receive at various levels and in various settings in the church.

In this brief chapter we get a glimpse at the melding and unifying power of the Gospel. Nobel men and women, silly youths, budding young ladies, and even slaves occupied this household of faith together. The Church presents a microcosm of the redemptive and restorative power of the Gospel, and the reality of the Kingdom of God. But in order to realize this high calling, churches must take seriously the apostolic instruction concerning how they may achieve and sustain the kind of “good order” that allows them to fulfill their callings. We may not pick and choose how we are to build the church. If we want our churches to be what Paul envisioned and Jesus seeks, then we shall have to follow the instructions and guidelines of those first master builders (1 Cor. 3.10) and not assume that we are free to do whatever we think will work for whatever purposes we may choose to embrace. 

Jesus is building His Church, and we build faithfully with Him when we follow the counsel and example of the apostles.

Reflect.
1. Why is it a thing so wonderful that even the lowliest people are regarded as being able to adorn the doctrine of God?

2. In what sense are all believers bondservants of Jesus Christ? How does this obligate us?

3. It can be a challenge to live this way – for example, at work. How can believers help one another to maintain this God-honoring, servant-like demeanor, even in the face of difficult people?

For if you serve your master with good will, yet the occasion of this service proceeds from your fear of God, and he who with so great fear renders him service, shall receive the greater reward. For if he restrains not his hand or his unruly tongue, how shall the Gentile admire the doctrine that is among us? But if they see their slave, who has been taught the philosophy of Christ, displaying more self-command than their own philosophers and serving with all meekness and good will, he will in every way admire the power of the gospel. John Chrysostom (344-407), Homilies on Titus 4

Give me grace for this day, Lord, that I may serve You by serving others as I…

Pray Psalm 4.6-8.
What challenges are you facing today? Where do you need grace to be humble, faithful, and loving? Bring these to the Lord in prayer, letting these verses guide you.

Sing Psalm 4.6-8.
Psalm 4.6-8 (Picardy: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent)
Wicked men may scorn and try us, casting doubt upon Your grace. 
Send Your Spirit, Lord, don’t deny us till we see Your glorious face. 
You Who sent Your Son to buy us, fill our hearts with joy and grace.

Safely in Your peace, let us lie, Lord; keep us in Your love and care. 
Rooted in Your strong and wise Word, may we know Your comfort there. 
Guard and keep us till we die, Lord; go before us everywhere.

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).