Titus 2

Pray Psalm 4.5.
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And put your trust in the LORD.

Read Titus 2.11-14

Prepare.
1. According to Paul, what is the purpose of God’s grace?

2. How does the reality of grace come to expression in the world?

Meditate.
What is the Gospel? Is it just the message of forgiveness and eternal life?

No; the Gospel announces a new era – that of the Kingdom – and a new King, Who is pursuing a new agenda by calling out a people for His own possession and forming them into His Body, the Church. Grace has come among men, and grace changes everything for all who receive it. Under the power of grace, we turn away from ungodliness and worldly passions; and we gain self-control, and strive to live “righteously and godly in the present age.” Under the grace of our Lord Jesus, we orient our lives toward His blessed return, always preparing and making ourselves ready for His sudden appearing; and under grace we show the love of Christ to the sinful world in lives of good works, which we do zealously.

Churches are forges for “new creations” (2 Cor. 5.17) who are God’s workmanship unto good works in every area of life, according to the Law of God (“from every lawless deed”; Eph. 2.10; Rom. 7.12). No church can be considered serious about the Lord’s Kingdom business that does not devote itself to this kind of equipping, ministry, and presence in its community.

In these verses we see Paul pointing toward the consummation of all things. The work of redemption and restoration – the proper work of churches – always takes place along a path and toward a horizon. We must always be preparing ourselves and encouraging one another for the glory of the Lord – glory here and now, and glory on the day of Christ’s return. Each church and each believer will have a somewhat different path in life; however, we are guided on those paths by sound instruction, the example of godly leaders, and the requirements of our individual callings in service to the people around us.

The horizon toward which we move, however, is the same for every believer and every church. We travel toward the City to Come, and we must prepare ourselves and our churches to meet the Lord when He returns, with our lamps lit, our lives and churches in good order, and us busy about the good works He has appointed us in His Law.

Reflect.
1. What is grace? What are the effects of grace?

2. What does it mean to “look for” the return of the Lord? Why is this important?

3. Why has God redeemed us as His people? What does it mean to be zealous for good works?

He gave himself for us that he might make a periousion people (for thus is the term in Greek for “peculiar”) and that he might make them the emulator of good works. Jerome (347-420), Commentary on Titus

How will You use me today, O Lord? Make me zealous for good works, and fearless against every foe, so that I…

Pray Psalm 4.4-7.
Look to the Lord for the grace you will need this day, that you might overcome every obstacle, rise above every trial, and show His grace and love to the world.

Sing Psalm 4.4-7.
Psalm 4.4-7 (Picardy: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent)
Let your anger flare, yet sin not; meditate, be still, and rest.
Turn your heart to God, begin not trusting in your righteousness.
Praise the Savior, all from sin bought; trust in Him to save and bless.

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.

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).